Which club in Ligue 1 is lucky enough to have a Ballon d'Or winner in its ranks? He no longer stacks goals, of course, is over 60 years old, but his name still arouses admiration, both among supporters and in the world of football. Jean-Pierre Papin is a legend, one of those athletes we never forget. He was not European champion in the white jersey, since he had moved to the opposite camp (at AC Milan) but he embodies the golden era, this prosperous period during which the team set up by Bernard Tapie reigned supreme on the pitch and delighted the public wherever he went. Like Basile Boli, scorer in Munich, the legendary number 9 is an icon. His coaching career has nothing to do with his playing career, of course.
The Marseillais were even sad when they saw him on the Chartres bench, among the amateurs, in National 2. But he deserves respect. Pablo Longoria had it in his favor by bringing him back into the Olympian management two years ago, then deciding in his favor in recent days in the conflict which opposed him to Ali Zarrak, the now ex-manager of the Pro2 group. Who was wrong, who was right in this nebulous episode? That's not the problem. The young leader therefore changed his mission, the former attacker continued his at the head of the reserve and the tension subsided. The Boulonnais will never be Guardiola, Klopp, Mourinho or Ferguson. We've known this for a long time, and so has he. There is a golden rule however: given the happiness he has brought to so many OM lovers, we do not touch “JPP”.
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