Shadow of DD with Les Bleus since 2012, he led the African national team from January 2003 to June 2005, while maintaining relationships with many people and players from the Senegalese environment
The man who loves to be in Didier Deschamps’ shadow could be his coach friend’s extra weapon ahead of Tuesday’s debut match at the World Cup. Guy Stéphan, who has always been alongside DD with Les Bleus since 2012, knows Senegal well as he was coach of the African national team from January 2003 to June 2005. He didn’t get the results he hoped for, but he knows the culture and has remained in contact with many people. A little extra help for France who want to avoid a start with the handbrake on like Ancelotti’s Brazil against Morocco.
heavy legacy
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Stéphan was chosen to lead Senegal after the farewell of Bruno Metsu, the coach who had led the “Lions of Teranga” to the final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations and the quarter-finals of the World Cup of the same year, with the historic victory over world champion France. It’s difficult to think of a heavier legacy to collect in African football. The federation was looking for a Frenchman, accustomed to high-level football and who had the experience to manage a generation that had suddenly become famous on an international level. The choice fell on Stéphan who had just returned from his adventure as technical director of the French national team led by Roger Lemerre and European champion in 2000. He seemed like the right man in the right place and instead…
star
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Senegal’s dressing room was full of personalities and important players. The star was El Hadji Diouf, twice African Ballon d’Or winner (2001 and 2002) and registered for Liverpool, but there was also Aliou Cissé, captain and leader of the group (he played for Birmingham and Portsmouth; he is now the most successful manager in the history of Senegal), Henri Camara, striker-hero of the 2002 World Cup with the golden goal against Sweden in the round of 16 (he played for Wolverhampton, Celtic and Southampton), Khalilou Fadiga, former Inter, Habib Beye, defender of Marseille, Mamadou Niang, also a forward for Marseille, Salif Diao, midfielder of Liverpool, and Papa Bouba Diop, scorer of the historic goal against France in the opening of the 2002 World Cup.
results
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With Stéphan, Senegal qualified for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, but in Tunisia they lost in the quarter-finals against the hosts. For a national team fresh from a continental final and a fairytale World Cup, the quarter-final was considered a disappointment and Stéphan was contested. He remained in charge until June 2005, when he was sacked after the 2-2 draw at home against Togo, in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. The numbers from his experience with Senegal however remain discreet: 27 benches, a few official defeats, but the feeling of not having been able to continue the Metsu cycle. Since 2005 he has always been assistant and, when he found Deschamps in 2012, he created such a successful combination that he no longer missed the role of first coach.
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