Lorient centenary: legends remember smallest-budget rise and famous 3-0 in Paris | OneFootball

Lorient will honour club legends at Le Moustoir on Monday to mark the Merlus’ centenary, a day after a 1-1 Ligue 1 draw with Paris FC. According to L'Équipe, former players and long-time coach Christian Gourcuff have shared memories of their years in Morbihan.

Gourcuff recalled three spells. As player-coach from 1982 to 1986 he climbed from Division d'Honneur to D2. From 1991 to 2001 he helped a bankrupt club back to Ligue 1 twice, saying 1997-98 was fantastic despite the smallest budget because the football shone. By 2003-2014 he had to step back as the club professionalised, yet facilities lagged and players sometimes changed in cars.

Yann Jouffre recalled Tiburce Darou, who died in 2015, arriving to help while also working with Yoann Gourcuff. After a minor incident Darou was persona non grata. Jouffre said Christian dislikes feeling let down and likened his discreet aura to Jean-Jacques Goldman.

Benjamin Genton evoked 2006-2007, the first Ligue 1 season with André-Pierre Gignac, Steve Marlet and Fabrice Fiorèse. Players shared post-training apéros in the dressing room with beer, crisps and charcuterie until the smell gave them away and staff stopped it, a snapshot of the group’s spirit.

Sigamary Diarra will never forget winning 3-0 at the Parc des Princes on 6 February 2010, through Marama Vahirua, Kévin Gameiro and Morgan Amalfitano. Paris-born, he called it a perfect display against a PSG featuring Claude Makélélé, Stéphane Sessegnon and Sylvain Armand, and said that season Lorient were unplayable, finishing seventh.

Source: L'Équipe