The Girondins de Bordeaux club announced this Sunday, December 22, the death of Pierrot Labat, a figure in the Girondine team that saw the birth of Zinedine Zidane and Christophe Dugarry. Bixente Lizarazu paid tribute to him.
A figure of the Girondins and of French football has left. This Sunday, December 22, the Bordeaux club announced the death of Pierrot Labat, its former trainer, at the age of 88: “The Marine et Blanc family in mourning. Pierrot Labat has left us. Educator, assistant to the training center training, goalkeeping coach, professional observer, then assistant coach… he marked the history of the Girondins with his passion and dedication. Pierrot contributed to the development of the greatest players in the history of the club and. will remain in everyone's hearts. Thank you for everything, Pierrot.”
In 1986, he was appointed deputy head of the Bordeaux training center. He saw the emergence of some illustrious names like Zinedine Zidane, Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry. He also spent time on Elie Baup's staff in the early 2000s.
“A confidant from the start”
On Instagram, Lizarazu pays tribute to him: An outstanding coach and trainer. A confidant from the start. The infectious passion for technical work, for the scales that we repeated for hours at the training center or as a professional. The navy and white jersey still stuck to the skin. It is a great page in the history of the Girondins which is turning today but you will remain forever in my memory and in my heart my very very dear Pierrot Labat. Rest in peace my friend.”
In the show Le Vestiaire in 2018, on RMC Sport, Pierrot Labat revealed some secrets of his legendary students. “Zidane told me that he was not good with his head and several times I told him that he was good. Any good player who has a little talent is good with his head,” he said. “I didn't make him work on his heading, I told him he had to work on it and have confidence. He had the talent, you just had to give him confidence.”
