The world of French football is in mourning following the death of Rolland Courbis, the charismatic former Olympique de Marseille coach and a prominent television pundit. He was 72 years old. His employer, RMC radio, announced the news on Monday, stating the announcement was made in agreement with his family. The cause of death was not disclosed.
A Marseillais Heart: Player and Coaching Legacy
Born in Marseille, Rolland Courbis was a product of the club's academy. As a rugged defender, he was part of the Marseille squad that achieved the historic French league and cup double in 1972. His playing career also saw him win two French league titles and a French Cup with AS Monaco.
He returned to his spiritual home in the late 1990s, this time as coach. In a heartfelt tribute, Marseille described him as "a Marseillais at heart" who "embodied popular, dynamic football." The club highlighted his unmistakable accent that carried "frank, direct, often passionate and always sincere words."
A Tumultuous Life and Legendary Comeback
Courbis's coaching career was extensive, with spells at clubs like Bordeaux, Lens, Montpellier, and Algeria's USM Alger. However, one moment stands out as truly legendary. In 1998, while coaching Marseille, he oversaw one of the most stunning comebacks in football history. His team was trailing 4-0 at home to Montpellier but fought back miraculously to secure an unforgettable 5-4 victory.
His life off the pitch was equally dramatic. He had a taste for casino gambling and once lived with an Italian countess. His life was marked by danger when, in 1996, he was seriously wounded by a bullet during an attack where gunmen fatally shot the president of a French soccer team. Courbis was also involved in several legal cases and was sentenced to prison.
From Pitch to Microphone: A Pundit's Passion
In his later years, Courbis transitioned seamlessly into a media role, becoming a beloved consultant for RMC radio since 2005. RMC noted that his passion was conveyed through his "trademark Marseille accent and in a very direct rapport with listeners," maintaining a freedom of tone that resonated with supporters.
France's national team coach, Didier Deschamps, paid a moving tribute, stating that French football had lost "a fine connoisseur of football and its inner workings." Deschamps added, "He was a true passionate figure. And in recent years, he chose to pass on that passion behind a microphone, with a turn of phrase all his own."
The passing of Rolland Courbis marks the end of an era for French football, closing the chapter on a life that was fiercely lived, both in triumph and turbulence, and leaving behind a legacy etched in the hearts of Marseille fans and football lovers across the nation.
