Raymond Kopa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Raymond Kopa (born October 13, 1931), originally Raymond Kopaszewski, is a French former football forward, integral to the French national teams of the 1950s. Kopa was a great playmaker and very versatile, who also scored plenty of goals.

Kopa, born in Noeux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais, son of Polish immigrants, began his professional career at 17 with SCO Angers in 2^nd Division, and was transferred two years later to Stade de Reims, with whom he won French championships in 1953 and 1955. With Reims, he was a finalist in the first European Cup final in 1956, losing to Real Madrid and Alfredo Di Stéfano 4-3. He was transferred to Real Madrid the subsequent season, where he was soon joined by Ferenc Puskás. Champion of Spain in 1957 and 1958, Kopa became, with Real Madrid, the first French player to win the European Cup. He would go on to win again in 1958 and 1959, the last against Stade de Reims and Just Fontaine.

Kopa returned to France in the 1959-60 season to finish his career with Reims, where he won Championnats in 1960 and 1962. In total, he scored 75 goals in 346 matches in the Ligue 1, and was given the Ballon d'or by France Football in 1958.

With the France national football team, he scored 18 goals in 45 games between 1952 and 1962. He played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, where the French team finished third, losing to the Brazilian team and Pelé. He was also voted as the 1958 Best Player of the Tournament and the 1954 Best Young Player of the Tournament, becoming the first and only one so far to win both.

He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

[edit] Titles and distinctions

• French championship in 1953, 1955, 1960 and 1962 with Stade Reims
• Liga in 1957 and 1958 with Real Madrid
• French second division in 1966 with Stade Reims
• UEFA Champions League in 1957, 1958 and 1959 with Real Madrid
• UEFA Champions League runner-up in 1956 with Stade Reims
• Latin Cup in 1953 with Stade Reims and 1957 with Real Madrid
• Latin Cup runner-up in 1955 with Stade Reims
• 1958 FIFA World Cup third place with France
• Ballon d'or in 1958
• Legion d'Honneur on 30 November 1970 (First footballer to hold it)

[edit] References

• Profile on French federation official site
• Stats at lequipe.fr

v • d • e France squad - 1954 FIFA World Cup 1 Remetter • 2 Ruminski • 3 Abbes • 4 Gianessi • 5 Grimonpon • 6 Kaelbel • 7 Marche • 8 Bieganski • 9 Cuissard • 10 Jonquet • 11 Louis • 12 Marcel • 13 Mahjoub • 14 Penverne • 15 Ben Tifour • 16 Dereuddre • 17 Glovacki • 18 Kopa • 19 Leblond • 20 Schultz • 21 Strappe • 22 Vincent • Coach: Pibarot

v • d • e France squad - 1958 FIFA World Cup Third Place 1 Abbes • 2 Colonna • 3 Remetter • 4 Kaelbel • 5 Lerond • 6 Marche • 7 Mouynet • 8 Chiarelli • 9 Hnatow • 10 Jonquet • 11 Lafont • 12 Marcel • 13 Penverne • 14 Bellot • 15 Bruey • 16 Douis • 17 Fontaine • 18 Kopa • 19 Oliver • 20 Piantoni • 21 Vincent • 22 Wisnieski • Coach: Batteux