The familiar figure in the Stade de France stands was a reminder of another France era. Aimé Jacquet, the coach who led Les Bleus to the 1998 World Cup, attended Monday night’s Nations League meeting with Belgium at the age of 84.
Quick facts
- Aimé Jacquet was France coach from 1993 to 1998.
- He guided France to the 1998 World Cup title.
- Jacquet watched France face Belgium in the Nations League at the Stade de France.
- He was seated behind French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo.
- Laurent Blanc, Robert Pirès and Vincent Candela were also close by.
Jacquet has made only occasional public appearances at France matches in recent years. His return to the national stadium brought together several men tied to the World Cup-winning generation he managed.
Blanc, Pirès and Candela were all part of Jacquet’s 1998 squad. Blanc later took charge of France between 2010 and 2012, while Zinédine Zidane and Fabien Barthez were also among the key players coached by Jacquet during his five-year spell in charge.
His recent appearances have been rare but notable. Jacquet attended France’s 3-0 pre-Euro 2016 friendly win over Scotland in Metz, then performed the ceremonial kick-off before the France-United States friendly in Lyon in 2018, two decades after the World Cup triumph.
He was also in Doha for France’s 3-1 World Cup last-16 victory against Poland in 2022. On Monday, with Belgium across from Les Bleus, the 1998 architect was again watching from the stands.
