Henri Michel

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Michel managed the France national team, guiding the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and a third–place finish at the 1986 World Cup. In 1994, he managed Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He had two stints with Morocco, the first between 1995 and 2000 – which included managing the team at the 1998 World Cup. His second stint, beginning in 2007, was short-lived with a poor showing at the Africa Cup of Nations 2008 where Morocco left in the first round, resulting in his sacking in February 2008. From 2001 to 2002, he coached Tunisia, but was fired when Tunisia exited the 2002 African Cup of Nations in the first round after failing to score a single goal. He joined the Ivorian national team around 2004, managing a young team to come out first of their group ahead of Cameroon and Egypt, becoming the first coach to send Ivory Coast to the World Cup. In February 2006, he reached the Africa Cup of Nations final, but lost to Egypt on penalties. Later that year, he managed Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where they played well but went home in the group stage after two defeats by Argentina and the Netherlands, before beating Serbia & Montenegro 3–2 in their final match.

In Their Own Story

After the 2006 World Cup he joined the Egyptian club Zamalek. He left the club in 2007 to return to Morocco. In 2008, he was appointed coach of Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. He left in March 2009 after being chased by an angry mob demanding his resignation. After two years turned back to El Zamalek on 30 August 2009 and on 30 November 2009 El Zamalek officials fired him due to negative results, the team was 15 points behind bitter rivals Al Ahly in the Egyptian league. Henri Michel was named Raja de Casablanca manager on 11 June 2010. On 10 December 2010, Michel was hired head coach of Equatorial Guinea to lead the team for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations they would co-host with Gabon. He suddenly resigned on 19 October 2011, with the Africa Cup of Nations three months away, because he said he could not have the best players in the country, but five days later he was rehired thanks to the dismissal of Sports Minister Ruslan Obiang Nsue. On 21 December 2011, he resigned again, citing interference from a 'third party'. On 28 August 2012, Michel was named by the Football Kenya Federation as head coach of the Harambee Stars, taking over from James Nandwa. Barely four months later, he resigned, stating he 'could not find an amicable agreement within the deadlines regarding my compliance with several provisions of the contract'. The FKF stated they were disappointed with his attitude, especially in looking down towards local tournaments, even describing the 2012 CECAFA Cup as useless.

Reader's Guide

Henri Michel died on 24 April 2018, aged 70. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was a Knight of the Legion of Honour (1999).

Did You Know?

• Henri Michel was born on 28 October 1947 and died on 24 April 2018, aged 70.
• He coached France to a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics and a third-place finish at the 1986 World Cup.
• He was the first coach to send Ivory Coast to the World Cup, after guiding them to top their group ahead of Cameroon and Egypt.
• In 2009, he left Mamelodi Sundowns after being chased by an angry mob demanding his resignation.
• He was appointed Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1999.