Alain Laurier (French pronunciation: [alɛ̃ loʁje]) (12 September 1944 – 25 December 2023) was a French football manager and player.

Alain Laurier
Personal information
Date of birth (1944-09-12)12 September 1944
Place of birth Créteil, France
Date of death 25 December 2023(2023-12-25) (aged 79)
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
–1965 Champigny-Cœuilly
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1972 Reims
1972–1974 Paris FC
1974–1976 Angers
1976–1979 Le Mans
1979–1982 Caen
Managerial career
1976–1979 Le Mans
1979–1983 Caen
1983–1986 AS Poissy
1986–1989 Grenoble
1990–1994 Istres
1996–1997 Dijon
1997–1998 Al Wasl
1999–2000 Al Wasl
2000–2001 Shenyang Jinde
2002–2004 Qatar (technical director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Laurier was born in Créteil (Val-de-Marne). He made his debut for Cœuilly, which became Reims. At the Champigny club, he played alongside big names such as Raymond Kopa and Lucien Muller. He played his first match in the championship alongside professionals on 17 October 1965. He took part in the return of the club to the top-flight in 1970. Two years later, he was signed by Paris FC, who had returned to Division 1. However, the Parisian club were relegated again two years later. Laurier then joined Angers, without further success. He spent two seasons with the club in Division 2.

In 1976, Laurier began his conversion to management. He became manager (DEPF), while continuing as a player at Le Mans. He continued as a player-manager at Caen, retiring as a player in his last season at the Normandy club. He then coached Poissy, Grenoble, Istres and Dijon,[1] as well as clubs in Dubai and China. From 2002 to 2004, he was technical director of the Qatar national team.

Death

edit

Laurier died on 25 December 2023, at the age of 79.[2][3]

Honours

edit
  • Amateur and military international
  • Took part in 1968 Mexico Olympics
  • Champion of France D2 in 1966 with Reims
  • Best manager in D2 in 1991 with Istres (awarded by France-Football magazine)

Publications

edit
  • Football "Culture tactique et principes de jeu", Chiron Sports, 1975
  • "Perfectionnement pour l'élite" in Arabic for the Qatar Football Federation in 2003

References

edit
  1. ^ Garin, Erik (12 July 2007). "France - Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Disparition d'Alain Laurier". Stade de Reims. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ Alain Laurier, ancien entraîneur et joueur du Stade Malherbe Caen, est décédé (in French)
edit