French coach and football pundit Roland Courbis dies at 72

Roland Courbis, once a notable French footballer and manager famed for pulling clubs away from demotion and later a forthright commentator in the media, passed away at 72, as announced by his employer RMC on Monday.

As a player, Courbis claimed the French league title three times, first with Marseille in 1972, then with Monaco in 1978 and 1982.

He managed Marseille for two years in a lively professional journey that saw him oversee more than 500 fixtures in Ligue 1, while also serving prison time on two occasions linked to monetary problems at his club during that period.

Courbis further took charge of Toulon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Montpellier, wrapping up his time as a coach with Caen in 2019.

At that stage, he had solidified his role as a respected analyst on French radio and television through RMC, featuring a direct approach that reshaped punditry in France.

France manager Didier Deschamps noted that French football has lost "an endearing, warm personality with a strong character," a "true enthusiast" who had "chosen to share his passion in recent years, behind a microphone, with a unique way of expressing himself".

Marseille offered a homage to Courbis via a statement, describing him as "an emblematic coach and a key personality in French football".