He will remain the man at the head of the French Football Federation when the selection won its first star. Claude Simonet, 92, died overnight from Monday to Tuesday. According to the entourage of the former leader, his funeral should take place on Tuesday, March 21.
His mandate at the head of the French body extended from 1994 to 2005. Before that, he had played football himself, but as an amateur. As a goalkeeper, the native of Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne) played in several clubs, such as Le Mans or Nantes. He was also a military international in 1951.
After his sporting career, Claude Simonet began that of manager. He notably became deputy vice-president in charge of finance at FC Nantes (1972-1984), then president of the Atlantic League (1984-2000). On February 19, 1994, he took over from Jacques George at the head of the French Football Federation. The latter took over after the resignation of Jean Fournet-Fayard following the France-Bulgaria match on November 17, 1993. This meeting, lost by the Blues, had deprived them of qualification for the 1994 World Cup.
The first world champion president
The mandate of Claude Simonet at the head of the FFF had its apotheosis on July 12, 1998. That evening, the French team faced Brazil at the Stade de France in the final of the World Cup. Zinedine Zidane and his partners won 3-0 and won the first star in the history of the selection. The continuation of the presidency of Claude Simonet is crowned with success with the victory at Euro 2000.
“With the disappearance of Claude Simonet, French football is losing a leader who marked the history of our sport since he was our President when we had the good fortune to win the World Cup in 1998, reacted Didier Deschamps, the coach of the Blues in a press release. Claude Simonet, who was also a player and manager in my first club, FC Nantes, was an endearing man. By placing his trust in Aimé Jacquet, he brought the French team back on the path to success. I will keep strong images of him, of intense happiness. I want to show his family and loved ones all my affection and offer them my sincere and saddened condolences. »
His tenure at the head of the federation ended on February 12, 2005. The former goalkeeper was then already 74 years old. Subsequently, he experienced some legal setbacks related to his presidency. In 2007, he was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 10,000 euros for having concealed a deficit of almost 14 million euros in 2003.