Bruno Metsu -Ex Senegal's Coach dies of Cancer

Ex-Senegal coach Metsu dies
15 Oct 2013 10:32:17
Bruno Metsu, the Frenchman who
coached Senegal in a remarkable
run to the 2002 World Cup
quarterfinals, has died. He was
59.
Lille, for whom Metsu played from 1979-81 and
coached in 1992-93, did not give a cause of
death, but media reports said he died early
Tuesday following a battle with cancer.
"It is with great sadness that we have learnt of
the death of Bruno Metsu," Lille said. "Lille, its
president Michel Seydoux, and all the players
and staff at the club, as well as the fans, offer
their sincere condolences to his loved ones."
Metsu's most memorable achievement as a coach
came at the 2002 World Cup, where his Senegal
team beat defending champion France 1-0 on its
tournament debut, one of the biggest upsets in
World Cup history.
The West African team, in what remains its only
appearance at the tournament, went on to beat
Sweden to reach the quarterfinals before losing
to Turkey, becoming only the second African
team to reach the last eight at the World Cup.
Reflecting the great affection Senegalese people
had for Metsu, the country's president, Macky
Sall, offered condolences to his family and said
the Frenchman with his unmistakable long, wavy
hair helped to write "the most beautiful pages"
so far in Senegal football history.
His former players also praised his popular
management style.
"More than a coach, he was a big brother for us.
What I liked about him was that when we had to
work, we worked, when it was time to have a
laugh, we laughed," Senegal striker Souleymane
Camara told L'Equipe.
"His team speech before the France game ... I
still talk about it to my friends. He managed to
motivate us so much that we couldn't lose. He
knew how to find the right words. He also
showed us some footage of the atmosphere
surrounding the national team, so that we would
surpass ourselves."
Former Senegal midfielder Khalilou Fadiga, a key
player in the 2002 World Cup team, wrote "I
have lost a brother" on Twitter.
Earlier that year, Senegal also reached the
African Cup of Nations final, where it lost on
penalty kicks to Cameroon.
"A thought for those close to Bruno Metsu, a
man and a coach who successfully exported the
values of French football," the French Football
Federation said.
Metsu spent his last years as a coach in the
Middle East with spells in charge of the United
Arab Emirates and Qatar national teams, as well
as club sides Al-Gharafa in Qatar and Al Wasl in
the UAE, where he replaced Diego Maradona.
Earlier in his career, he also coached
Valenciennes, Sedan and Valence before taking
charge of Guinea, and then Senegal from
2000-02.
Claude Le Roy, a close friend of Metsu's who also
coached Senegal, Cameroon and Ghana, said
Metsu "fought like a lion."
"It's terrible for him, for Viviane (his wife) and
the kids. I'm thinking about them in particular,"
Le Roy told L'Equipe. "We had a lot of
adventures together. I will remember his
magnificent smile and his love of life."
Former Lille teammate Stephane Plancque
remembered the fun-loving Metsu with
fondness.
"We played together for two seasons. I was
younger than him, I knew about him already
from his reputation," Plancque said. "We quickly
became close, and were roommates for away
games. He was a great guy."
David Friio, a former midfielder who played for
Valence and now works as a scout in France for
Manchester United, also paid his respects.
"He helped me at a time nobody cared and I will
never forget that," Friio tweeted.