Paul Le Guen

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Lore & Background

Le Guen played as a midfielder for Brest, Nantes Atlantique, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning 17 caps for France. As a manager, he led Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles after they had already won their first league title in 2001–02. He also managed Stade Rennais, Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers, the Cameroon national team, the Oman national team, Bursaspor, and Le Havre.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the turf as the 2004-05 season wound down, but Paul Le Guen stood motionless on the touchline, his hands buried deep in his pockets. He watched his players celebrate another victory, not with a roar, but with a quiet, knowing nod to each other. This was the third time in three years they had done this; the league title was no longer a dream, but a routine expectation under his guidance. The next day, 9 May 2005, he resigned, with Gérard Houllier taking over.

Reader's Guide

Le Guen replaced Jacques Santini as manager of Olympique Lyonnais on 21 May 2002 after Lyon captured their first league title. He led Lyon to a further three consecutive championships and reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. He resigned on 9 May 2005, the day after the club won their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 championship.

Did You Know?

• Le Guen was credited with the winning goal in the 1995 Coupe de France Final for Paris Saint-Germain, but it was actually an own goal by Strasbourg's goalkeeper.
• He was the first Catholic to manage Rangers, a team with a historically Protestant identity.
• Le Guen ran the Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan desert in 2006.