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True icon of French football dies

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Picture: Riviera Radio

True icon of French football dies - Just Fontaine a true icon of French football has died at the age of 89. The former striker passed by Nice and the Stade de Reims had also contributed to the first big successes of the France team in the 1950s before becoming coach of the Blues as well as coach of Paris Saint-Germain. The ex-attacker passed away in Toulouse. Born in Morocco in 1933, Just Fontaine began his career there at US Marocaine between 1950 and 1953. After joining OGC Nice, the striker made an impression thanks to his formidable efficiency. In just three years with the Aiglons, between 1953 and 1956, he scored 52 goals in 83 games before joining the legendary Stade de Reims team. In Champagne, Just Fontaine contributed to the team's journey to the final of the Champions Club Cup in 1958-1959 but lost to Real Madrid. During his club career, Just Fontaine notably won the league title four times, once with Nice (1956) and three times with Reims (1958, 1960, 1962), before hanging up his boots in 1962.

But it is perhaps his journey with the French team that made him a legend. International 21 times between 1953 and 1690, "Justo" Fontaine scored no less than 30 goals. He helped the Blues to reach third place or the first time in history at a World Cup in 1958. Better still, during this tricolor epic, Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in six games. To date, no one has managed to do better in a single World Cup tournament.