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Philippe Troussier

Philippe Troussier
Troussier in 2023
Personal information
Full name Philippe Bernard Victor Troussier
Philippe Omar Troussier
Date of birth (1955-03-21) 21 March 1955 (age 69)
Place of birth Paris, France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1974–1975 AS Choisy-le-Roi
1975–1976 RC Joinville
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1977 Angoulême 22 (0)
1977–1978 Red Star 93 3 (0)
1978–1981 Rouen 79 (8)
1981–1983 Reims 38 (0)
Total 142 (8)
Managerial career
1983–1984 INF Vichy
1984–1987 CS Alençon
1987–1989 Red Star 93
1989 Créteil
1989–1992 ASEC Mimosas
1993 Ivory Coast
1994 Kaizer Chiefs
1995–1997 FUS Rabat
1997 Nigeria
1997–1998 Burkina Faso
1998 South Africa
1998–2002 Japan
1999 Japan U20
2000 Japan U23
2003–2004 Qatar
2004–2005 Marseille
2005 Morocco
2007 FAR Rabat
2008–2010 Ryūkyū (sports director)
2011–2013 Shenzhen Ruby
2014 Sfaxien
2015 Hangzhou Greentown
2017–2018 Chongqing Liangjiang (Technical director)
2018–2021 PVF (Technical director)
2019–2021 Vietnam U19
2023–2024 Vietnam U23
2023–2024 Vietnam
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan (as manager)
AFC Asian Cup
Winner 2000 Lebanon
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up 2001 South Korea & Japan
Representing  Vietnam (as manager)
SEA Games
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Phnom Penh
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Philippe Omar Troussier,[1] (French pronunciation: [filip tʁusje]; born 21 March 1955) is a French former association football player who was most recently the manager of the Vietnam national football team from February 2023 to March 2024. He led Vietnam to its biggest failure in its modern football history, leading to his termination by the VFF.

After a modest playing career as a defender within the French leagues, he moved into management where he started out within the lower echelons of French football, however it was his move to Ivorian team ASEC Mimosas where he started to distinguish himself as a manager after winning several league titles with them.[2] This would soon see him have a long association with African football and particularly their national teams, with Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa and Burkina Faso being teams he managed. His international management career would continue with Japan where he had a successful spell with them by winning the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. Since then, he has returned to club management.

Playing career

[edit]

Troussier started his career in football as a player and would go on to become a professional with French Division 2 football club Angoulême in the 1976–77 league season. The following campaign he would leave to join Red Star 93, however his stay at the club was brief and he moved to Rouen. After several seasons with Rouen, Troussier's last professional club was Stade de Reims whom he played for until 1983. After having spent his whole professional career in the second division he moved into management.

Coaching career

[edit]

Early coaching career

[edit]

Troussier soon moved into management after gaining his coaching licences and achieved his first coaching position with the French Football Federation where he was allowed to manage a National football centre football club called Institut National du Football de Vichy or more commonly known as INF Vichy. The team were allowed to participate in the third tier and given exemption from promotion or relegation so the young players could develop. In his time with the team he led them into the 1983–84 league season where they came second within their group.[3] The following season Troussier would coach CS Alençon in the French fourth division and spent three seasons learning how to manage an amateur football club.[4]

He would return to his former club Red Star 93 in the 1987–88 league season as their manager. In his time with the club he would guide them to second within the group and promotion to the second tier at the end of the 1988–89 league campaign.[5] He would, however leave the club on 30 June 1989 to join second-tier club Créteil on a caretaker basis until 1 October 1989 when Bernard Maligorne took on the management position.[6]

Move to Africa

[edit]

Troussier's first move away from France started with Ivory Coast top division football club ASEC Mimosas where in his debut season he won the league championship.[7] This would soon be followed by two further league titles and an endearment towards the country, which saw him gain citizenship with Ivory Coast. With his impressive run at club level the Ivory Coast national football team hired him as their manager in hopes that he could replicate his success with the national team. He was assigned to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, however he failed to achieve this and soon left his post to move to South African football club Kaizer Chiefs.

After a brief period with Kaizer Chiefs Troussier moved to Moroccan football club Fath Union Sport and led them to the 1995 Coupe du Trône.[8] His time with Fath Union Sport also saw him experience relegation to the second tier with them, however he remained with the club for several seasons until he was offered a chance to return to international management with Nigeria to replace Shaibu Amodu as they attempted to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Entering the job halfway through qualifying he led them into four games throughout the campaign as Nigeria qualified, however the Nigeria Football Federation decided to relieve Troussier of his duties and ultimately let highly experienced coach Bora Milutinović lead them into the tournament due to his experience of already managing three different nations in a World Cup at that time.[9]

Troussier quickly found a new job managing another African nation in Burkina Faso where he was assigned to coach them in the 1998 African Cup of Nations, which they were hosting. In a short period of time he made the team genuine title contenders until they were beaten by Egypt 2–0 in the semi-finals. Burkina Faso ultimately finished fourth after losing to DR Congo in the third-place match, nevertheless the result meant it was their highest ever finish at the time.[10] His stint at Burkina Faso would impress the South African Football Association, who offered him the job of leading South Africa to the 1998 World Cup. He would replace Jomo Sono, who, despite leading South Africa to the final of the 1998 African Cup of Nations as a caretaker manager, was not given a permanent position. Troussier, however was not able to galvanize the squad as he had done with Burkina Faso and the team were knocked-out in the group stages. After the tournament he would leave Africa, but before he did he was nicknamed as the "White Witch Doctor" for his overall successful legacy towards African football. However, his role as coach of South Africa remains a highly controversial topic, in which former defender Mark Fish, who played in the 1998 World Cup, later blamed Troussier for the failure.[11]

Move to Asia

[edit]

In 1998 Troussier replaced Takeshi Okada to coach Japan and was assigned to improve upon the nation's previous results at the 1998 FIFA World Cup as they prepared to co-host the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Having to use a translator, he struggled to get what he wanted from the players as they were knocked out of the 1999 Copa América within the group stages.[12] The disappointing performance within the tournament gathered a negative reaction from the Japanese media, which saw Troussier go for a more youthful approach and take the reins of the under-20 team as they participated in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.[13] The Japanese team had a successful campaign and were runners-up within the tournament. He continued to take control of Japan's youth teams when he managed the under-23 team in the 2000 Summer Olympics and led them to the quarter-finals.[14] The majority of that team would then go on to be called up to the 2000 AFC Asian Cup and win the tournament.[15] With this success, Troussier went into the 2002 FIFA World Cup with confidence and led Japan to the final 16, making it at the time Japan's best ever finish within the competition.[16]

In July 2003 Troussier was appointed as the new manager of Qatar and was assigned with qualification for the 2004 AFC Asian Cup with the hope of repeating the success he previously had with Japan.[17] Initially his reign went smoothly with a successful qualification campaign and a team selection that once again employed a youthful approach as well as several naturalized players.[18] The tournament itself turned out to be a disappointment that saw Qatar finish bottom of their group. Along with his disappointing start to the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Troussier was ultimately fired from his position.[19]

Return to France and Africa

[edit]

On 27 November 2004, Troussier returned to France to manage Ligue 1 team Olympique de Marseille. His time with the club would see him have a tumultuous relationship with the senior players, particularly French international player Bixente Lizarazu.[20] A fifth-place finish at the end of the season saw Troussier replaced by Jean Fernandez. He returned to Africa and became the head coach of the Moroccan national team, having taken over after the country's failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. However, he was fired after two months in charge by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation due to a difference in opinion.

Return to Asia

[edit]

From 2005, after a stint with Morocco, Troussier would stay away from football and was confirmed to have converted to Islam around 2006.[1] In March 2008, he returned to Japan to manage FC Ryūkyū a Japanese third-division team, before he was replaced by compatriot Jean Paul Rabier. On 22 February 2010, he returned to management with Chinese Super League side Shenzhen Ruby F.C. on a three-year contract.[21] He would once again enforce a youthful team selection; however this would relegate the team, making them the first top-tier champions to be relegated since the foundation of professional football in China.[22] He would remain with the club while they were in the second tier; however after mounting criticism he would alienate himself from the fans after the fourth-round league match versus Chongqing F.C. when in a local TV interview Troussier fired out against criticism and doubt from fans and urged them "not to come to the game or him". Shenzhen Ruby won the match, however former players who were forced to leave by Troussier in his efforts to force youth into the team Li Fei and Chris Killen scored for Chongqing F.C. in their first return to Shenzhen and physical confrontations took place after the match among fans, staffs, players and even Troussier himself.[23] He further alienated his relationships with the squad and staff on 25 August after a defeat to Chengdu Tiancheng F.C. saw the club's hopes of promotion vanish and he provided a statement that he would take leave back to France on a "regular holiday under his contract".[24] The club's supporters would believe the board sent him on leave hoping that the indignity would see him resign rather than compensating him the 1 million euros per year in his contract. He returned from his holiday and managed the club throughout the 2013 Chinese league season, where he was unable to gain promotion.

Troussier is widely believed to be the first-choice replacement as coach of the Malaysia national football team after the Football Association of Malaysia didn't renew former coach K. Rajagopal's contract after it expired in December 2013. He was said to have agreed a MYR5 million annual salary with the FAM.[25] However, the deal fell through when he faced some disagreements with the Football Association of Malaysia.[26]

On 30 June 2014, Troussier became manager of CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.[27] On 28 September 2014, Troussier quit CS Sfaxien.[28]

In April 2018, he was one of 77 applicants for the vacant Cameroon national team job.[29]

Vietnam and decline

[edit]

Later in 2018, he became a strategic adviser and then officially a technical director of PVF, a Vietnamese football academy.[30] In 2019, referred by PVF, Troussier became the head coach of Vietnam U19 National Team.

On February 16, 2023, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) officially announced it had appointed Troussier head coach of the Vietnam national football team.[31][32][33] Troussier officially took office in February 2023, succeeding Park Hang-seo[34][35][36] to lead the U22,[37] U23, Olympic[38] and Vietnam national teams.[39][40][41] His contract is expected to officially begin in early March 2023 and will run until the end of July 2026, for a total of 3 years and 5 months.[42][43] At the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, the Vietnam U-22 team lost to Indonesia U-22 in the semifinals, 3-2,[44] and won the bronze medal after beating Myanmar U-22 3-1.[45]

He then led Vietnam to the biggest failure in its modern history, becoming the first fail to advance past the group stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup after two consecutive opening losses against Japan and Indonesia (the latter had not defeated Vietnam since 2016) and for the first time, Vietnam didn't advance past the group stage of an Asian Cup after doing in 2007 and 2019.[46] Vietnam also lost in the last match against Iraq. Following the shock elimination, calls to fire Troussier increased. But the VFF confirmed that it would not fire him but instead could reconsider his contract if Vietnam perform poorly in the remaining fixtures of the 2026 World Cup qualification.[47][48][49]

After Vietnam lost again to Indonesia in the first leg at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Troussier face rising criticism.[50][51] The loss was blamed on Troussier's lack of focus on professional areas and confrontational attitude with Vietnamese media.[52] On March 26, 2024, Vietnam at home lost 3-0, to Indonesia in their second leg. During the match, Vietnamese fans carried posters urging Troussier's ouster. His contract was eventually terminated by the VFF shortly after the match.[53][54]

Personal life

[edit]

Phillipe Troussier and his wife converted to Islam in Morocco, acquiring the name Philippe Omar Troussier.[55]

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of match played 26 March 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Nigeria 1 March 1997 1 September 1997 4 3 0 1 075.00
Burkina Faso 1 September 1997 1 March 1998 6 3 0 3 050.00
South Africa 1 March 1998 30 June 1998 6 0 4 2 000.00
Japan U20 1 July 1998 30 June 1999 7 5 0 2 071.43
Japan 1 July 1998 1 August 2002 43 17 14 12 039.53
Japan 13 September 2000 30 September 2000 4 2 0 2 050.00
Qatar 1 January 2004 20 July 2004 4 1 0 3 025.00
Marseille 28 November 2004 1 June 2005 23 8 6 9 034.78
FAR Rabat 1 January 2007 31 December 2007 3 1 0 2 033.33
Shenzhen Ruby 23 February 2011 6 November 2013 49 11 11 27 022.45
Sfaxien 1 July 2014 28 September 2014 10 4 3 3 040.00
HZ Greentown 2 December 2014 2 July 2015 17 5 5 7 029.41
Vietnam U23 1 March 2023 26 March 2024 12 6 3 3 050.00
Vietnam 1 March 2023 26 March 2024 14 4 0 10 028.57
Total 202 70 46 86 034.65

Honors

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ASEC Mimosas

FUS Rabat

Japan U20

Japan

Vietnam U23

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b October's ten – Religious conversions The Guardian, Emma John; 1 October 2006
  2. ^ "Troussier: Africa is the heart of the game". FIFA.com. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Division 3 Gr. Centre 1984" (in French). footballenfrance.fr. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Union Sportive Alençonnaise 61" (in French). footballenfrance.fr. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Red Star Football Club 93" (in French). footballenfrance.fr. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Red Star FC » Manager history". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  7. ^ Eric Boesenberg (4 December 2014). "Ivory Coast - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  8. ^ Shahbaz Sabeti and Nabil Benkirane (15 June 2005). "Morocco 1994/95". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  9. ^ Mark Pierson (18 December 1997). "Football: Milutinovic confirmed as Nigeria coach for France 98". independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  10. ^ Barrie Courtney (5 June 2005). "African Nations Cup 1998 - Final Tournament Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Philippe Troussier was an idiot, says ex-Bafana defender Mark Fish".
  12. ^ "Copa America 1999". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  13. ^ Ryan Steele (26 November 2012). "Top 10 Japanese foreigners: No.6 Philippe Troussier". asianfootballfeast.com. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  14. ^ Karel Stokkermans (22 August 2008). "Games of the XXVII. Olympiad". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Asian Nations Cup 2000". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  16. ^ "World Cup 2002". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
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  18. ^ Patrick Haond. "Troussier wants French for Qatar". skysports.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Qatar coach Troussier sacked". news24.com. 20 July 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
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  26. ^ Zulhilmi Zainal (31 January 2014). "Phillippe Troussier deal falls through". goal.com. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  27. ^ "Troussier jumps in as CS Sfaxien and Esperance meet in Tunisian derby". thenational.ae. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  28. ^ "Troussier leaves Sfaxien after Champions League defeat". bbc.co.uk. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  29. ^ Oluwashina Okeleji (23 April 2018). "77 applicants for vacant Cameroon coaching position". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  30. ^ VNS (10 May 2018). "French football manager to help Vietnamese football enter World Cup". Viet Nam News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
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  33. ^ tử, Báo Nghệ An điện (16 February 2023). "HLV Philippe Troussier chính thức trở thành 'thuyền trưởng' của ĐT Việt Nam". Báo Nghệ An điện tử (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  34. ^ THAO, CHUYÊN TRANG THỂ (16 February 2023). "Philippe Troussier chính thức trở thành tân HLV trưởng ĐT Việt Nam". CHUYÊN TRANG THỂ THAO (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  35. ^ Minh, Báo Pháp Luật TP Hồ Chí (15 February 2023). "HLV Troussier chính thức thay ông Park". Báo Pháp Luật TP. Hồ Chí Minh (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  36. ^ MEDIATECH. "HLV Philippe Troussier chính thức thay thế HLV Park Hang-seo dẫn dắt tuyển Việt Nam". baohungyen.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  37. ^ Trí, Dân (3 June 2023). "Những đổi mới về nhân sự đội tuyển Việt Nam thời HLV Philippe Troussier". Báo điện tử Dân Trí (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  38. ^ thanhnien.vn (11 July 2023). "Sẽ có hai đội U.23 Việt Nam song song dẫn dắt bởi HLV Troussier và Hoàng Anh Tuấn". thanhnien.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  39. ^ "VFF - LĐBĐVN chuẩn bị công bố tân HLV trưởng Đội tuyển quốc gia và U23 quốc gia". VFF (in Vietnamese). 16 February 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  40. ^ thanhnien.vn (16 February 2023). "Nóng: HLV Troussier chính thức dẫn dắt đội tuyển Việt Nam, đến Hà Nội ngày 26.2". thanhnien.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  41. ^ Trí, Dân (16 February 2023). "HLV Philippe Troussier chính thức dẫn dắt đội tuyển Việt Nam". Báo điện tử Dân Trí (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
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  44. ^ VTV, BAO DIEN TU (13 May 2023). "Thua U22 Indonesia tại bán kết, U22 Việt Nam tranh huy chương Đồng". BAO DIEN TU VTV (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  45. ^ VnExpress. "Việt Nam giành HC đồng bóng đá nam SEA Games - VnExpress". vnexpress.net (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  46. ^ "Coach Philippe Troussier: "I am always proud of the players. They did not give up and tried until the last second."". vff.org.vn (in Vietnamese). 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  47. ^ Thịnh, Quang (21 January 2024). "Thua Indonesia là dấu chấm hết cho ông Troussier?". TUOI TRE ONLINE (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
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  49. ^ Anh, Hoài (18 February 2024). "Từ chuyện KFA sa thải Klinsmann đến may mắn của HLV Troussier". Tạp chí điện tử Saostar.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  50. ^ Bóng đá VN trưa 22/3: HLV Troussier gây phẫn nộ lớn, CĐV Đông Nam Á "trêu đùa" ĐT Việt Nam vì thua, 21 March 2024, retrieved 27 March 2024
  51. ^ BÁO CHÍ VÀ NHM ĐÒI SA THẢI TROUSIER NGAY LẬP TỨC: CHÚNG TÔI CHỊU ĐỰNG SỰ KÉM CỎI QUÁ ĐỦ RỒI, 21 March 2024, retrieved 27 March 2024
  52. ^ "'80% of fans hope VFF fires coach Troussier', right or wrong? - Vietnam.vn". 22 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  53. ^ VnExpress. "VFF chấm dứt hợp đồng với HLV Troussier". vnexpress.net (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  54. ^ "Philippe Troussier sacked after Vietnam's 0-3 loss to Indonesia". VOV.VN. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  55. ^ "French Coach Troussier Reverts to Islam". www.worldbulletin.net/ (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  56. ^ "Ivory Coast - List of Champions". RSSSF. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  57. ^ "Morocco 1994/95". RSSSF. 15 June 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  58. ^ "Philippe Troussier". playmakerstats.com. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  59. ^ "Philippe TROUSSIER". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
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