Rolland Courbis passed away at the age of 72. A former player, an iconic coach, and an essential voice of French football on RMC for more than twenty years, the Marseille native leaves behind an immense mark on the landscape of the game in France.
Trained at Olympique de Marseille, a former center-back who notably played for Ajaccio, Olympiakos, Sochaux, Monaco, and Toulon, he was crowned French champion three times, in 1972, 1978, and 1982.
After his playing career, he became a coach for more than 35 years, leading many clubs in France and abroad, in the United Arab Emirates, Niger, Switzerland, and Algeria, and notably leaving his mark on the benches of OM, Montpellier, and Lens.
The Birth of “Zizou”
But beyond the tactician and the pundit, Rolland Courbis also leaves a more symbolic legacy, known to everyone.
When Zinédine Zidane arrived in Bordeaux, he was still simply called “Yazid.” A name Courbis found too strict, not fluid enough for the man who was meant to make people play and dream with the number 10 shirt. Almost naturally, he looked for something softer, more affectionate, and one day said: “Zizou.”
Without realizing it, he had just named one of the greatest legends in French sport.
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