Former French international striker Bernard Lacombe, a pivotal figure in the nation’s Euro 1984 triumph, has passed away at the age of 72 following a prolonged illness.
Mr. Lacombe commenced his professional football career with his hometown club, Olympique Lyonnais, later joining AS Saint-Étienne for a brief period before making a significant impact at FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Over the course of his Ligue 1 tenure, he amassed an extraordinary total of 255 goals in 497 appearances, positioning him as the second-highest goalscorer in the history of the French top flight—surpassed only by Argentine forward Delio Onnis, who recorded 299 goals.
Upon retiring from active play, Mr. Lacombe returned to Olympique Lyonnais in a managerial and executive capacity. He served as the club’s manager from 1996 to 2000 and continued to play an influential role in its sporting and technical development thereafter.
His contributions to both club and country remain deeply respected and his legacy within French football is firmly secured.#newsafro_
