Madrid pioneer 'Luicito' passes away
Monday, January 7, 2008
Article summary
Former Real Madrid CF player and French international Louis Hon, who led Olympique Lyonnais to their first French Cup title as a coach, has died at the age of 83.
Article body
Former Real Madrid CF player and French international Louis Hon, the first man to guide Olympique Lyonnais to glory in the French Cup, has died at the age of 83.
Famous number
The former defender succumbed to a heart attack at the weekend, having been the first French player to represent Madrid between 1950 and 1953, wearing the No5 shirt which countryman Zinédine Zidane would later make his own. The Burgundian-born player started his career at Paris-based Stade Français FC in 1946 and returned there after his spell in the Spanish capital, hanging up his boots in 1956 at Stade Raphaëlois FC.
Coaching credentials
Capped 12 times by France between 1947 and 1949, 'Luicito' returned to Spain as a coach with Real Zaragoza, RC Celta de Vigo, Sevilla FC and Real Racing Club Santander. He then led Lyon to their first French Cup in 1967, and went on to coach SCO Angers, AC Ajaccio and Olympique Avignonaise, where he was named as France’s coach of the year in 1972 for leading his side to the French Cup semi-finals.
Honourable mention
He retired from football in the late 1970s following further spells as coach with Paris FC, Ajaccio and FC Lorient, settling in Saint-Raphael where there is now a stadium named in his honour. His funeral will be held at the local Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire church on Thursday.
