|
 Guy Roux has always had a sense of the dramatic. Whether he is popping his head out from under a model’s bed covers in a TV advert, or knocking on the Auxerre President’s door aged 23 to demand an interview for the job as first-team Coach, the charismatic trainer has never been afraid to shock.
It should not have been such a surprise then when the 66-year-old called everyone’s bluff by announcing his decision to quit as Auxerre boss on Sunday, some 44 years after first taking charge.
Roux, who famously took the Burgundy club from the obscurity of France’s amateur Leagues to the glamour of the Champions’ League, had everyone believing that he would carry on for many more years.
“When I’m out on the training pitch with my players, I’m as happy as I can be,” he said in December. “It’s my passion and, health permitting, I’ll be here for a little while yet.”
Even his players were left in the dark. Moments after claiming the club’s fourth Coupe de France crown against Sedan on Saturday, they quizzed the veteran on his intentions. “If you guys could run as fast as you spread rumours, we’d be a great team,” came the typically quick-witted response.
Roux's sudden departure leaves French football with a massive void to fill. His unique personality, shrewd football brain and extraordinary ability to nurture young players have left an indelible mark, and Auxerre President Jean-Claude Hamel knows that replacing him is nigh on impossible. “How can one replace a legend?” he pondered. “Perhaps I should ask the advice of other Presidents. After all, I’ve only had to do this once in 44 years!”
Such is Roux’s passion for football that he is certain to remain in the game – probably working for the French League, certainly offering expert views as a TV pundit and most likely overseeing matters in a more hands-off role with his beloved Auxerre.
What is sure, though, is that those ferocious bellows that have been emanating from the Auxerre dugout every Saturday through the past five decades will be sorely missed.
ROUX’S STORY:
1952: Roux gets his first football licence, aged 13, to play for the Auxerre juniors.
1957: Obtains his first coaching qualifications, aged 18.
1960: Observes Crystal Palace training sessions for one month.
1961: Aged 23, Roux becomes the Auxerre player-manager after accepting a starting salary of FF600 a month (about £60).
1961-63: Carries out his military service in Trèves, Germany, and is handed responsibility for running training sessions for the regiment's football team.
August 1966: Travels to England to watch the World Cup finals.
May 1970: Auxerre finish top of their regional League and win promotion to the Third Division.
May 1974: They finish fourth behind the Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Marseille reserve teams, earning promotion to Ligue 2.
June 1979: Auxerre lose to Nantes on penalties in the Coupe de France Final.
1980: Roux becomes general manager, as well as Coach, of Auxerre.
May 1980: They are promoted to the top flight after beating Cannes 2-1 in the last game of the season.
1982: Roux sets up the Auxerre youth academy, which would go on to produce the likes of Jean-Marc Ferreri, Basile Boli, Eric Cantona, Sabri Lamouchi, Djibril Cissé and Philippe Mexès.
September 1984: Auxerre are in Europe for the first time, but lose 2-0 to Sporting in the UEFA Cup.
1990: Roux becomes President of the Coach’s Union.
March 1993: Auxerre beat European giants Ajax in the UEFA Cup quarter-final.
April 1993: They lose on penalties to Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Cup semi-final.
June 1994: The club wins its first major trophy, beating Montpellier in the Coupe de France Final.
May 1996: Auxerre win the Coupe de France again, this time beating Nimes.
May 1996: Auxerre win the domestic double, as Roux guides the Burgundy team to the Ligue 1 title.
September 1996: Roux guides his team into the Champions’ League for the first time, though they lose their first game to Ajax.
March 1997: Auxerre are eliminated from the Champions League despite winning the quarter-final second leg against the eventual winners Borussia Dortmund.
November 1999: Roux is presented with the Légion d’honneur.
May 2000: He announces his retirement due to health problems after 20 seasons in Ligue 1.
May 2001: Decides to return, replacing Daniel Rolland as head Coach.
November 2002: Two months after undergoing heart surgery, he returns to the Auxerre dugout.
May 2003: He wins the Coupe de France for a third time, Auxerre beating PSG.
May 2005: Roux takes part in his 890th and last Ligue 1 game as Coach, losing 3-1 to Lille. Auxerre finish the season eighth.
June 2005: He wins the Coupe de France for a fourth time, as Auxerre beat Sedan.
June 5, 2005: THE END
|
