1. Early life and family background
Djorkaeff was born on October 27, 1939, in Charvieu, a commune located in the Isère département in southeastern France. He comes from a diverse ethnic background, born to a Kalmyk father and a Polish mother. His nickname is "Tchouki".
2. Playing career
Jean Djorkaeff had an extensive and impactful playing career, spanning 16 seasons across the top two tiers of French football. He made a significant contribution to several prominent clubs and was a regular fixture for the French national team.
2.1. Club career
Djorkaeff made his professional debut for Lyon in a match against Limoges on December 28, 1958. Although he initially began his career as a striker, he later transitioned and became widely recognized for his exceptional work as a central defender, also playing as a right-back.
He spent a total of 16 seasons in the first two tiers of French football, playing for only four clubs throughout his professional career. He spent eight seasons with Lyon, four seasons with Marseille, two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, and his final two seasons with Paris FC. Across his club career, he made a total of 422 appearances, scoring 40 goals.
His club achievements include winning the Coupe de France twice: first with Lyon in the 1963-64 season, and then with Marseille in the 1968-69 season. He also played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain's success, winning the Division 2 title in the 1970-71 season.
2.2. International career
At the international level, Djorkaeff represented the France national team on 48 occasions between 1964 and 1972, scoring 3 goals. He made his international debut on October 4, 1964, in a match against Luxembourg.
He was a key member of the French squad that participated in the 1966 FIFA World Cup held in England, proudly representing his nation on the global stage.
3. Managerial career
Following his playing career, Jean Djorkaeff transitioned into football management and coaching, holding various positions.
In 1972, while still an active player at the club, he served as an interim manager for Paris FC for two matches. After his retirement from playing, he took on coaching roles, notably at UGA Lyon-Décines. In 1981, Djorkaeff became the manager of Grenoble, a Division 2 club, where he remained for two seasons. He then moved to Saint-Étienne, a first-tier club, managing them for one season from 1983 to 1984. From 1986 to 1987, he held the position of assistant manager for the France national team. Later in his career, he returned to coach UGA Lyon-Décines.
4. Administrative and other activities
Beyond his active playing and coaching roles, Jean Djorkaeff has also been involved in football administration and other related activities. He worked within the French Football Federation. In 2000, he was appointed president of the Coupe de France commission, a role he held for seven years, overseeing the prestigious national cup competition. In April 2007, he took on the position of general manager at UGA Lyon-Décines, demonstrating his continued commitment to the development and management of football at various levels.
5. Personal life
Jean Djorkaeff's family has a notable history in professional football. His sons, Youri and Micha Djorkaeff, both followed in his footsteps to become professional footballers. The family's footballing tradition extends to his grandson, Oan Djorkaeff, who also pursued a career in the sport.
His son Youri Djorkaeff achieved significant international renown, playing for the France national team in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, as well as participating in UEFA Euro 1996 and winning UEFA Euro 2000. Youri was a key member of the French team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship in 2000, surpassing his father's international team achievements.
An interesting anecdote connects Jean Djorkaeff and the Uruguayan footballer Pablo Forlán; they faced each other in a match during the 1966 FIFA World Cup. While there was a popular belief that their sons, Youri Djorkaeff and Diego Forlán, would also face each other in a generational match during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, this specific encounter did not occur with both sons playing in the same match.
6. Honours
Lyon
- Coupe de France: 1963-64
- Coupe de France runner-up: 1962-63
Marseille
- Coupe de France: 1968-69
Paris Saint-Germain
- Division 2: 1970-71
Individual
- Best full-back in France: 1970-71
