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Roger Marche

Roger Marche (1924-1997) was a prominent French footballer and defender who played for Stade de Reims and RC Paris, represented France in two World Cups, and held records as France's most-capped player and oldest goalscorer.

1. Overview

Roger Gaston Louis Marche (5 March 1924 - 1 November 1997) was a prominent French footballer who primarily played as a left back and defender. Standing at 5.6 ft (1.72 m), throughout his distinguished career, he became known for his robust playing style, earning him the nickname Le Sanglier des Ardennesthe Boar of the ArdennesFrench, referring to his home region. Marche represented the France national football team in the 1954 FIFA World Cup and the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where France achieved a third-place finish. He also left a significant mark on French club football, notably with Stade de Reims and RC Paris, becoming one of the players with the most appearances in the French top division. Marche held historic records as France's most-capped international player and the oldest national team goalscorer for several decades.

2. Early life and background

Roger Marche was born on March 5, 1924, in Villers-Semeuse, a commune in the Ardennes department of France. He began his footballing journey at ASC Mohon as a youth player. His birthplace in the Ardennes region gave rise to his famous nickname, Le Sanglier des Ardennesthe Boar of the ArdennesFrench, which reflected his tenacious and powerful playing style on the field.

3. Career

Roger Marche's professional career spanned from 1944 to 1962, during which he established himself as a key figure in both French club football and the national team. He achieved significant success with his clubs, particularly Stade de Reims, and became a record-holder for the France national team.

3.1. Club career

Marche began his professional career with Reims in 1944, where he played until 1954. During his tenure with Reims, he made 300 appearances and scored one goal. Following his successful period at Reims, he moved to RC Paris in 1954, where he played for eight seasons until his retirement in 1962. At RC Paris, he made 242 appearances. In total, Roger Marche played 542 matches in the French top division, making him one of the players with the most appearances in the league's history. His career total for clubs included 542 appearances and 1 goal.

3.2. International career

Roger Marche was a cornerstone of the France national football team for over a decade, representing his country from 1947 to 1959. During this period, he earned 63 international caps and scored 1 goal. He proudly represented France in two FIFA World Cup tournaments: the 1954 FIFA World Cup and the 1958 FIFA World Cup. At the 1958 tournament, France achieved a notable third-place finish.

Roger Marche with the France national football team in 1949.
Roger Marche with the France national football team in 1949.


Marche set a significant historical record by becoming France's most-capped player, having played 63 international matches. He surpassed the previous record of 46 caps set by Étienne Mattler in 1940. Marche held this record for 24 years, until 1983, when fellow defender Marius Trésor earned his 64th cap, thereby surpassing Marche's achievement. Since then, several other players have also gone on to exceed Marche's cap total.

Furthermore, Marche held the record as France's oldest goalscorer for the national team. He scored his last international goal at the age of 35 years and 287 days. This record stood for many years until September 22, 2022, when Olivier Giroud scored, becoming the nation's new oldest goalscorer.

4. Honours and records

Roger Marche accumulated a significant number of team honours and individual records throughout his illustrious career, particularly with Stade de Reims and the France national team.

4.1. Team honours

During his time with Stade de Reims, Roger Marche achieved considerable success:

  • Division 1:
    • Winner: 1948-49, 1952-53
    • Runner-up: 1946-47, 1953-54
  • Coupe de France: 1949-50
  • Trophée des Champions: 1949
  • Latin Cup: 1953

With the France national football team, Marche contributed to:

  • FIFA World Cup third place: 1958

4.2. Individual records

Roger Marche held two prominent individual records for the France national football team for many years:

  • Most-capped player: With 63 international appearances, Marche held the record for France's most-capped player from 1959 until 1983. His record surpassed Étienne Mattler's 46 caps. The record was eventually broken by Marius Trésor in 1983, who earned 64 caps.
  • Oldest national team goalscorer: Marche was France's oldest goalscorer, having scored at the age of 35 years and 287 days. This record was maintained until September 22, 2022, when it was surpassed by Olivier Giroud.

5. Death

Roger Marche passed away on November 1, 1997, at the age of 73. He died in Charleville-Mézières, a city in the Ardennes department of France, the same region where he was born and from which he derived his famous nickname.