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Football

Former coach Goethals dies aged 83


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Marseille's European Cup win was the highlight of Goethals' coaching career

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Raymond Goethals, the Belgian coach who steered Marseille to the European Cup in 1993, has died of cancer aged 83.

Marseille's 1-0 win over AC Milan in the 1993 final was the highlight in Goethal's long coaching career.

He also led the Belgian national team to the 1970 World Cup finals and won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1978 with Anderlecht.

Goethals began his career as a goalkeeper in the 1930s with Brussels club Daring. He turned to coaching in the 1950s and was appointed to run the Belgian team in 1968.

He also took the "Red Devils" to the 1972 European Championship, where Belgium finished third.

Returning to club football, Goethals led Anderlecht to the final of the Cup Winners Cup in 1977 before winning the competition a year later.

After spells in France and Brazil, he returned to take charge of Standard Liege, winning the 1982 and 1983 Belgian Championship and guiding them to the European Cup Winners Cup final.

Back at Anderlecht in 1987, Goethals won another Belgian championship and two Belgian Cup titles.

In 1990, Goethals moved to Marseille where owner Bernard Tapie was ambitious for European glory. In 1991, Marseille lost the European Cup final on penalties to Red Star Belgrade, but two years later Goethals steered the French club to the title.

"I am really sad, very sad," said Tapie. "He was much more than just a coach .... he was filled with all sorts of virtues which made him an extraordinary man.

"He had a nose for detecting young talent and while he did not have a big strategic plan he was able to adapt to any situation on the pitch.

"On the human side he was a fabulous guy who joked around with the players which showed that he had their respect."


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