1. Overview
René Girard, born on April 4, 1954, is a distinguished French football manager and former player. Throughout his career, Girard has left a significant mark on French football, both through his achievements on the field as a midfielder and his strategic prowess from the dugout. As a player, he notably won three Ligue 1 titles and two Coupe de France trophies with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, and also represented the French national team, participating in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Transitioning into management, Girard led several French clubs and national youth teams, achieving his most notable success as the head coach of Montpellier HSC, where he guided the club to a historic and unexpected Ligue 1 title during the 2011-12 season. This triumph was widely seen as a significant boost for French football, demonstrating that success could be achieved without massive financial investment.
2. Early life and background
René Girard was born on April 4, 1954, in Vauvert, a commune located in the Gard department of France. His early life in this region laid the foundation for his future career in professional football.
3. Playing career
René Girard enjoyed a notable career as a professional football player, primarily as a midfielder. His club career spanned several years with Nîmes Olympique and FC Girondins de Bordeaux, where he accumulated significant domestic honours. Internationally, he earned caps for the France national football team and was part of the squad that competed in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
3.1. Club career
Girard began his professional playing career at Nîmes Olympique, where he played from 1973 to 1980, making 202 appearances and scoring 27 goals. He later returned to Nîmes from 1988 to 1991, adding another 92 appearances and 5 goals to his record.
His most successful period at club level came with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, where he played from 1980 to 1988. During his time at Bordeaux, Girard made 241 appearances, scoring 17 goals. He was a key part of the team that secured three Ligue 1 titles in the 1983-84, 1984-85, and 1986-87 seasons. Additionally, he won two consecutive Coupe de France trophies in the 1985-86 and 1986-87 editions. He also won the Trophée des Champions in 1986.
3.2. International career
René Girard earned seven caps for the French national team, scoring one goal during his international appearances. His most significant international achievement was being a member of the French squad that competed in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. The team performed admirably in the tournament, ultimately finishing in fourth place.
4. Managerial career
After retiring as a player, René Girard transitioned into a successful managerial career, overseeing various club teams and contributing significantly to the development of French youth football at the national level.
4.1. Early managerial roles
Girard's coaching career began with his former club, Nîmes Olympique, in 1992. He subsequently managed Pau FC from 1996 to 1997 and Strasbourg in 1998.
His involvement with the French national team system expanded notably when he served as an assistant coach for the senior national team from 1998 to 2002. Following this, he took on roles managing various French youth national teams, including the U-19 team from 2002 to 2003 and the U-16 team from 2003 to 2004. In 2004, Girard was appointed as the head coach of the France national under-21 team, succeeding Raymond Domenech. His tenure with the U-21 team lasted until 2008. During this period, the team faced mixed results; they reached the semi-finals of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship but failed to qualify for the 2009 tournament after playoff defeats to Portugal in 2004 and Israel in 2007, leading to his departure near the end of the qualification campaign due to poor results.
4.2. Montpellier HSC
On June 3, 2009, René Girard was appointed as the new head coach of Montpellier HSC, replacing Rolland Courbis. Montpellier had just been promoted to Ligue 1 prior to his appointment. In his first season, the 2009-10 campaign, Girard led Montpellier to an impressive fifth-place finish in Ligue 1, securing qualification for the UEFA Europa League 2010-11. The following season, 2010-11, saw the club struggle with a severe lack of scoring despite Olivier Giroud's 12 goals, finishing 14th in the league with a total of 32 goals, one of the lowest tallies in the league. Despite rumors of his dismissal, Girard was retained for the 2011-12 season.
The 2011-12 season marked a historic period for Montpellier under Girard's leadership. The team shocked the footballing world by winning their first-ever Ligue 1 title, finishing the season with 82 points, three points ahead of high-spending Paris Saint-Germain. Girard famously stated after the victory, "I think our triumph is a real shot in the arm for French football. It just goes to show that everyone can beat everyone and that money isn't the be-all and end-all. We're a club of mates, a club that brings young players through and gives them a chance. At the end of the day, it's worked out well for us. We played some great football, with a well-balanced team and I'm overwhelmed." This achievement was celebrated as a testament to collective spirit and youth development over financial might.
4.3. Later managerial roles
Following his successful spell at Montpellier, Girard continued his managerial career with other clubs. In July 2013, he signed with Lille, taking over from Rudi Garcia. He remained as Lille's manager until 2015. In 2016, Girard took charge of FC Nantes. Later, on September 30, 2018, he was appointed as the head coach of the Moroccan club Wydad AC.
5. Honours
René Girard achieved significant honours during both his playing and managerial careers.
5.1. As a player
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
- Ligue 1: 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87
- Coupe de France: 1985-86, 1986-87
- Trophée des Champions: 1986
5.2. As a manager
Montpellier HSC
- Ligue 1: 2011-12