1. Overview
Raymond Goethals (Raymond Goethalsʁɛmɔ ɡutalsFrench; Raymond Goethalsrɛːˈmɔː ˈɣutɑlsDutch; 7 October 1921 - 6 December 2004) was a Belgian football coach renowned for leading Olympique de Marseille to victory in the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final in 1993. This achievement made him the first coach to win a European trophy with a French club and remains the only coach to win the UEFA Champions League with a French club. Goethals was known for his distinctive personality, often referred to by nicknames such as "Raymond-la-science" ("Raymond-the-Science"), "le sorcier" ("the Wizard"), or "le magicien" ("the Magician"). His blunt speaking style, habit of mispronouncing players' names, and strong Brussels accent were characteristic. A chain smoker, he was frequently likened to the television detective Lieutenant Columbo. While celebrated for his tactical prowess and numerous titles, his career was also marked by a significant match-fixing scandal during his tenure at Standard Liège, which raised serious questions about the integrity and fair play within the sport. He was the father of referee Guy Goethals, who officiated at the UEFA Euro 1992 and UEFA Euro 1996 tournaments.
2. Playing Career
Raymond Goethals began his football career as a goalkeeper in the 1930s. He started in the youth ranks of Daring Brussels (also known as DC Brussels) before joining Racing Club Brussel in 1947, where he remained until 1948. He also played for Renaisiènne. While he served as a goalkeeper, his playing career did not achieve significant prominence.
3. Coaching Career
Raymond Goethals embarked on an extensive and impactful career as a football manager, progressing from early coaching roles in Belgium to leading major clubs across Europe and Brazil, as well as the Belgium national team. His tactical approaches and distinctive personality left a lasting mark on the sport.
3.1. Early Coaching Career
After concluding his playing career, Goethals transitioned into coaching. His initial roles included managing Belgian clubs such as RFC Hannutois (1956-1957) and RS Waremme FC (1957-1959). In 1959, he took charge of Sint-Truiden, where he achieved notable success by guiding the team to a second-place finish in the Belgian First Division during the 1966-67 season. His performance at Sint-Truiden quickly established him as a promising coach.
3.2. Belgium National Team
Goethals' success at the club level led to his appointment as a coach for the Belgium national football team in 1966. He then took over as head coach in 1968 (or 1969, depending on the source). Under his leadership, Belgium successfully qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, though they were eliminated in the first round of the tournament. His most significant achievement as national team coach came in 1972 when Belgium hosted the 1972 UEFA European Football Championship. They had impressively knocked out defending champions Italy in the qualifying stages. In the tournament itself, after losing to eventual winners Germany in the semi-final, Belgium secured a third-place finish by defeating Hungary.
Goethals also took immense pride in Belgium's performance during the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they managed to hold the emerging Netherlands scoreless in both their encounters. Despite completing their qualifying campaign without conceding a single goal, Belgium ultimately missed out on a spot in the World Cup due to an inferior goal difference compared to the Netherlands, who advanced. His tenure as national team coach concluded in 1976.
3.3. Club Coaching
Goethals' club coaching career spanned several countries and included multiple successful spells, marked by both triumphs and challenges.
3.3.1. Belgian Clubs
After his time with the national team, Goethals returned to club coaching, joining R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1976. In his first season, Anderlecht reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, where they were defeated by German side Hamburger SV. However, the following year, in the 1977-78 season, he led Anderlecht to victory in the same competition with a comprehensive 4-0 win over FK Austria/WAC. He also guided Anderlecht to win the 1976 European Super Cup and the 1978 European Super Cup, as well as the Amsterdam Tournament in 1976, Tournoi de Paris in 1977, and the Jules Pappaert Cup in 1977. He also received the Belgian Sports Merit Award in 1978.
After coaching abroad, Goethals returned to Belgium to manage Standard Liège in 1981. Under his guidance, Standard Liège achieved back-to-back Belgian First Division titles in the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons. They also secured the Belgian Super Cup in 1981 and 1983, and won the UEFA Intertoto Cup Group in 1982 and 1984. In 1982, Standard Liège also reached the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, but lost to FC Barcelona, who benefited from the final being played at their home ground, Camp Nou. Goethals later had a second spell at Anderlecht from 1987 to 1989, where he won the Belgian Cup in both the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons, and the Bruges Matins in 1988.
3.3.2. French Clubs
Goethals also had significant management spells in France. He coached FC Girondins de Bordeaux from 1979 to 1980, and again from 1989 to 1990, where they finished as runners-up in the French championship in the 1989-90 season.
His most celebrated period came when he was appointed coach of Olympique de Marseille in 1990, succeeding Franz Beckenbauer. He was specifically tasked with leading the club to European Cup success. In his first season, Marseille narrowly missed out on European glory, losing the 1991 European Cup Final to Red Star Belgrade on penalties after defeating strong teams like A.C. Milan in the quarter-finals. Despite the loss, his coaching abilities were recognized, and he was voted European Coach of the Year in 1991.
Marseille, under Goethals, went on to win the French Division 1 titles in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, and were runners-up in the Coupe de France in 1990-91. In 1993, Marseille reached the European Cup final once more. This time, they defeated favorites A.C. Milan with a decisive headed goal by Basile Boli, securing the coveted European title. Having achieved his primary objective of winning the Champions League with Marseille, Goethals departed the club.
3.3.3. Brazilian Club
Between his spells in Belgium and France, Goethals had a brief but notable period coaching the Brazilian club São Paulo Futebol Clube from 1980 to 1981. During his tenure, São Paulo finished as runner-up in the 1981 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
3.4. Controversy
Raymond Goethals' career was significantly marred by a match-fixing scandal that came to light in 1984, stemming from his time at Standard Liège. The controversy centered around the club's 1982 Belgian championship win. It emerged that Goethals had suggested and initiated the bribing of players from Waterschei prior to their final league match of the season. The primary motivation was to secure the championship title for Standard Liège and, crucially, to ensure that none of his key players would sustain injuries that would prevent them from participating in the upcoming European Cup Winners' Cup final against FC Barcelona.
When the scandal was exposed, it severely damaged the reputation of Goethals and Standard Liège, leading to his forced resignation. This incident highlighted serious ethical breaches within football, undermining the sport's integrity and the principle of fair play. The manipulation of match outcomes for personal or club gain was a stark reminder of the darker side of professional sports, raising questions about accountability and the impact on public trust.
Separately, the club he managed, Olympique de Marseille, was later stripped of their 1993 French championship title. This occurred when it was revealed that three Valenciennes players had been offered money to underperform in a crucial match against Marseille. As a consequence, Marseille was not permitted to defend their European title and faced relegation to the French second division. While Goethals had already left Marseille by the time this scandal fully unfolded, it further underscored the pervasive issues of corruption in football during that era, affecting clubs he had been associated with.
4. Personal Life and Characteristics
Raymond Goethals was known for his highly distinctive and unique personality, which made him a memorable figure in football. He earned several famous nicknames, including "Raymond-la-science" ("Raymond-the-Science"), "le sorcier" ("the Wizard"), and "le magicien" ("the Magician").
His speaking style was particularly famous: he was known for being blunt and direct, often speaking slowly, and always with a pronounced and unique Brussels accent. Another notable quirk was his habit of mispronouncing players' names, which became a running joke among fans and media. Goethals was also a notorious chain smoker, a habit that contributed to his public persona and led to him being frequently likened to the disheveled yet brilliant television police detective Lieutenant Columbo.
Beyond his professional life, Goethals had family connections within the sport; he was the father of Guy Goethals, who became a well-known football referee, officiating at major international tournaments such as the UEFA Euro 1992 and UEFA Euro 1996.
5. Retirement and Later Life
Raymond Goethals' active coaching career officially concluded after his final spell at R.S.C. Anderlecht during the 1995-96 season. However, his deep knowledge and insightful understanding of football ensured he remained a prominent figure in the sport. He transitioned into a successful career as a football analyst and commentator for television. In this role, he was highly sought after for his sharp insights and continued to be popular with audiences, maintaining the same analytical prowess that characterized his managerial days.
6. Death
Raymond Goethals passed away on 6 December 2004, at the age of 83. The cause of his death was bowel cancer. His passing marked the end of an era for Belgian and European football.
In the year following his death, in 2005, Goethals' lasting impact was recognized when he was voted 38th in "De Grootste Belg" (The Greatest Belgian), a Flemish television program based on the BBC's "100 Greatest Britons" format. Further tribute was paid in late 2005 when Stand 2 at F.C. Brussels' home ground, the Edmond Machtens Stadium, was renamed in his honour. Raymond Goethals remains notable as the oldest winning manager of the UEFA Champions League and is the only deceased manager to have won the competition since its rebranding.
7. Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches played | Matches won | Matches drawn | Matches lost | Win % | |||
| Sint-Truiden | 9 June 1959 | 28 May 1966 | 219 | 82 | 59 | 78 | 37.4 |
| Belgium | 8 June 1968 | 25 April 1976 | 44 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 56.8 |
| Anderlecht | 19 July 1976 | 12 July 1979 | 143 | 93 | 18 | 32 | 65.0 |
| Bordeaux | 22 October 1979 | 15 June 1980 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 52.0 |
| São Paulo | 29 July 1980 | 20 July 1981 | 52 | 31 | 12 | 9 | 59.6 |
| Standard Liège | 1 July 1981 | 11 June 1984 | 142 | 89 | 25 | 28 | 62.7 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 4 August 1984 | 8 June 1985 | 32 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 31.3 |
| Racing Jet Brussels | 8 June 1985 | 5 June 1987 | 67 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 35.8 |
| Anderlecht | 23 July 1987 | 12 June 1989 | 97 | 60 | 21 | 16 | 61.9 |
| Bordeaux | 4 July 1989 | 11 August 1990 | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 54.3 |
| Marseille | 3 January 1991 | 7 June 1991 | 112 | 65 | 34 | 13 | 58.0 |
| Total | 979 | 517 | 219 | 243 | 52.8 | ||
8. Honours
Raymond Goethals' extensive career as a manager was marked by numerous significant honours and titles across various clubs and with the national team.
8.1. Managerial Honours
Anderlecht
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1977-78; runner-up 1976-77
- UEFA Super Cup: 1976, 1978
- Belgian Cup: 1987-88, 1988-89; runner-up 1976-77
- Amsterdam Tournament: 1976
- Tournoi de Paris: 1977
- Jules Pappaert Cup: 1977
- Bruges Matins: 1988
São Paulo
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A runner-up: 1981
Standard Liège
- Belgian First Division: 1981-82, 1982-83
- Belgian Super Cup: 1981, 1983
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1981-82
- UEFA Intertoto Cup Group winner: 1982, 1984
Bordeaux
- French Division 1 runner-up: 1989-90
Marseille
- French Division 1: 1990-91, 1991-92
- UEFA Champions League: 1992-93; runner-up 1990-91
- Coupe de France runner-up: 1990-91
Belgium National Team
- UEFA European Championship third place: 1972
8.2. Individual Honours
- Panchina d'Oro: 1990-91
- Panchina d'Argento: 1991-92
- Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 1991, 1993
- Belgian Sports Merit Award: 1978
- Trofee Raymond Goethals: From 2011 (an award named in his honor)
- Golden Shoe Lifetime Achievement Award: 2014
- France Football 47th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019
9. Legacy and Assessment
Raymond Goethals left an indelible mark on football, particularly in Belgium and France, and is remembered as one of the sport's most influential and colorful characters. His tactical acumen, especially his ability to guide teams to European success, cemented his place in football history.
His most celebrated achievement, the UEFA Champions League victory with Olympique de Marseille, stands as a testament to his coaching prowess, making him the first and only coach to win the competition with a French club. This triumph, achieved at nearly 72 years old, also makes him the oldest winning manager of the UEFA Champions League.
Despite his celebrated achievements, the match-fixing scandal during his time at Standard Liège remains a controversial aspect of his legacy. This incident, which led to his resignation, highlighted a serious ethical lapse that undermined the integrity of the sport and fair play. It serves as a reminder of the complex and sometimes problematic intersection of ambition and ethics in professional football.
Posthumously, Goethals continued to be recognized for his contributions. In 2005, the year after his death, he was voted 38th in "De Grootste Belg" (The Greatest Belgian), a Flemish television program based on the BBC's "100 Greatest Britons" format. Furthermore, in late 2005, Stand 2 at F.C. Brussels' home ground, the Edmond Machtens Stadium, was renamed in his honour, a lasting tribute to his impact on Belgian football. He is also uniquely remembered as the only deceased manager to have won the UEFA Champions League since its rebranding. His ranking among the greatest managers of all time, such as 47th by France Football in 2019, further solidifies his enduring legacy in the sport.