1. Early life and playing career
Guy Lacombe's early life saw him develop his football skills before embarking on a professional playing career where he made significant contributions to various French clubs and the national Olympic team.
1.1. Youth career
Born on June 12, 1955, in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, France, Guy Lacombe began his football journey in his hometown. He played for his local club, Villefranche-de-Rouergue, until the age of 20, honing his skills as a striker.
1.2. Club career
Lacombe commenced his professional club career in 1975, playing for a series of French clubs. He began with US Albi in the Division 3, where he made 29 appearances and scored 10 goals in the 1975-1976 season.
His performance earned him a move to FC Nantes in Division 1 in 1976. At Nantes, he enjoyed considerable success, contributing to the team's Division 1 title victory in the 1976-1977 season. Nantes followed this with two consecutive second-place finishes in the league. During his time with Nantes, Lacombe made 55 appearances, scoring 9 goals. In the 1978-1979 season, he also won the Coupe de France with the club.
After three seasons with Nantes, he transferred to RC Lens in 1979, where he played for two seasons, making 86 appearances and scoring 16 goals. From 1981 to 1983, he played for Tours FC, appearing 90 times and scoring 10 goals. He then moved to Toulouse FC for the 1983-1985 seasons, where he played 82 matches and scored 6 goals.
His career continued with spells at Rennes (1985-1986, 53 appearances, 6 goals), Lille (1986-1987, 23 appearances, 4 goals), and finally AS Cannes (1987-1989, 35 appearances, 4 goals), before he retired as a player in 1989.
| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albi | 1975-1976 | 29 | 10 |
| Nantes | 1976-1979 | 55 | 9 |
| Lens | 1979-1981 | 86 | 16 |
| Tours | 1981-1983 | 90 | 10 |
| Toulouse | 1983-1985 | 82 | 6 |
| Rennes | 1985-1986 | 53 | 6 |
| Lille | 1986-1987 | 23 | 4 |
| Cannes | 1987-1989 | 35 | 4 |
1.3. International career
Lacombe was a prominent member of the French Olympic squad. In 1984, he participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, California, United States. The French team achieved a historic victory, securing the gold medal in the team competition. During his time with the U-23 French national team, he made 9 appearances and scored 2 goals.
2. Coaching career
Following his playing career, Guy Lacombe transitioned into management, leading several notable French clubs and one international team, achieving both success and facing challenges.
2.1. FC Sochaux
From 2002 to 2005, Lacombe managed FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. During his tenure, he became known for his ability to scout and develop talented young players, including future stars like Benoît Pedretti and Jérémy Ménez. In the 2002-2003 season, Sochaux finished fifth in the league and reached the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, where they were runners-up. The following season, 2003-2004, Sochaux once again finished fifth in the league and made history by winning their first ever Coupe de la Ligue title. These achievements secured two UEFA Cup qualifications for the club under Lacombe's leadership. He left Sochaux in July 2005.
2.2. Paris Saint-Germain
On December 27, 2005, Guy Lacombe was appointed manager of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), replacing Laurent Fournier, who had been dismissed while the team was in sixth place in Ligue 1. His first match as PSG coach was on January 4, 2006, where his team secured a 3-1 victory at the Parc des Princes against his former club, Sochaux. Despite finishing the 2005-2006 Ligue 1 season in ninth place, a drop from their position when he took over, Lacombe led PSG to victory in the Coupe de France final. They defeated their rivals Olympique de Marseille 2-1 in a match known as Le Classique, thereby clinching a spot in the UEFA Cup.
The start of the 2006-2007 season saw controversy when Lacombe dropped French international midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo, who had scored one of the goals in the cup final. Dhorasoo publicly criticized Lacombe in an interview with L'Équipe, leading to his dismissal by PSG chairman Alain Cayzac in October 2006. This incident marked the first time a Ligue 1 player was dismissed by their employer. On January 15, 2007, with PSG struggling just one place above the relegation zone, Lacombe was dismissed and replaced by Paul Le Guen.
2.3. Stade Rennais
Lacombe returned to Ligue 1 on December 17, 2007, taking over as manager of Rennes. He replaced Pierre Dréossi at a challenging time, as Rennes had plummeted from third to thirteenth place after six consecutive defeats. During the 2008-2009 season, Rennes enjoyed an impressive 18-match unbeaten run in the league and reached the 2009 Coupe de France Final. However, the team's league form declined towards the end of the season, and they finished in seventh place. In the Coupe de France final, Rennes suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to Ligue 2 club Guingamp, their Derby Breton rivals. Rumors of friction with the club's management circulated, and Lacombe resigned as Rennes manager on June 3, 2009.
2.4. AS Monaco
On June 2, 2009, Lacombe signed a two-year contract with AS Monaco, succeeding the Brazilian manager Ricardo Gomes. In his first season with the club from Monaco, he guided them to the 2010 Coupe de France Final. However, Monaco lost the final 1-0 to his former team, PSG, with Guillaume Hoarau scoring the decisive goal in extra time. While successful in the cup, the team struggled in the league, generally remaining in mid-table positions. In the 2010-2011 season, Monaco found itself in the relegation zone, and their poor league form was compounded by an embarrassing elimination from the Coupe de France Round of 64. On January 10, 2011, Monaco was defeated on penalties by Chambéry SF, a fifth-tier club from Championnat National 3. Following this disappointing result, Lacombe was dismissed as Monaco's coach.
2.5. Al Wasl
On November 7, 2012, Guy Lacombe ventured abroad for the first time in his coaching career, joining Al Wasl FC in the United Arab Emirates. His appointment came as a recommendation from the club's previous coach, his compatriot Bruno Metsu, who had taken leave due to a stomach cancer diagnosis. However, Lacombe's tenure at Al Wasl was brief. He was dismissed on February 18, 2013, following a 4-0 loss to Al-Ahli. At the time of his dismissal, Al Wasl was in ninth place in the league, and Lacombe had managed only two wins in his nine fixtures.
3. Post-coaching career
After concluding his club coaching career, Guy Lacombe took on a significant role within the French football hierarchy. On October 1, 2013, he became a director for the French Football Federation (FFF), joining the Direction Technique Nationale (DTN), which oversees the technical development of French football. He continued in this role until his official retirement from professional football on October 3, 2017.
4. Honours
Guy Lacombe achieved significant honours during both his playing and coaching careers, securing league titles, national cups, and an Olympic gold medal.
4.1. Player
- Nantes
- Ligue 1: 1976-1977
- Coupe de France: 1978-1979
- France Olympic team
- 1984 Summer Olympics: Gold medal
4.2. Coach
- Cannes (Youth Academy)
- Coupe Gambardella: 1995
- Sochaux
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2003-2004
- Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 2002-2003
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Coupe de France: 2005-2006
- Rennes
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2008-2009
- Monaco
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2009-2010
5. Assessment
Guy Lacombe's football career, spanning decades as both a player and a manager, is marked by a blend of consistent performance, strategic acumen, and notable achievements. As a player, his Olympic gold medal in 1984 stands out as a significant national triumph, underscoring his contribution to French football at an international level. His club playing career was solid, particularly his time at FC Nantes, where he secured a league title and a Coupe de France.
As a manager, Lacombe cultivated a reputation for developing young talent, as evidenced by his work at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, where he nurtured players like Benoît Pedretti and Jérémy Ménez. This focus on youth development aligns with a positive impact on the sport's future. His success in domestic cup competitions, including winning the Coupe de la Ligue with Sochaux and the Coupe de France with Paris Saint-Germain, highlights his ability to guide teams to silverware. The Coupe de France victory with PSG, particularly against rivals Olympique de Marseille, is considered a significant achievement given the club's league position at the time.
However, his managerial career was not without its challenges and controversies. His tenure at PSG was notably affected by the public dismissal of Vikash Dhorasoo, an incident that drew considerable attention and underscored the pressures of high-stakes club management. Subsequent spells at Rennes and Monaco, while featuring cup final appearances, were also characterized by periods of inconsistency and eventual dismissals, often due to team struggles or perceived friction with club hierarchies. His brief stint with Al Wasl FC in the United Arab Emirates further illustrated the difficulties of maintaining consistent results in competitive football environments.
Despite these challenges, Lacombe's overall impact on French football is viewed positively, particularly his later role within the French Football Federation, which demonstrated a continued commitment to the sport's organizational and developmental aspects until his retirement. His career reflects a dedication to football, from the grassroots level of youth development to the strategic complexities of top-tier professional management.