Raymond Kéruzoré
Encyclopedia
Raymond Keruzoré is a former Breton
and French
football
player and manager, regarded as one the greatest players to have played for Stade Rennais, as well as one of the greatest ever Breton
players.
for Rennes against Metz (0–3). In 1971 he won the Coupe de France
with Rennes, beating Lyon
1–0. The following season, he played 2 matches in the European Cup-Winners Cup
, eventually losing to Rangers
(1–1 in Rennes, 0–1 in Glasgow
).
He signed for Marseille
in 1973, but only played one season, returning to Rennes the following year. For Marseille, he played 4 matches in the UEFA Cup
, demolishing Union Luxembourg
13–1 on aggregate in the first round. In the second round the team played against Cologne
, winning the first leg 2–0, but conceding six goals in the return match.
In 1975, he joined manager Michel Le Milinaire, a fellow Breton, at Stade Lavallois
for one of the club's most successful periods, when it won promotion to the French first division. The club then turned fully professional and against expectations retained its top-flight status until long after his departure in 1979.
While playing for Laval
, he won the first of two caps for the national team
in a world cup qualification
match in 1976. 'Kéru' was in contention for the French squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
in Argentina, but did not make the final squad. This, and his lack of international caps, are largely because he played the same midfield playmaker position as Michel Platini
.
From 1979 to 1981 he played for Brest
, another Brittany
-based club to which he would later return as manager. During this time, the team won Division 2 and was promoted to Division 1.
From 1981 to 1986, he was player-manager of Guingamp, his third Breton club. During this time, the team enjoyed one of their most successful ever periods in Division 2 and in the French Cup. In season 82–83 Guingamp knocked Laval out of the cup (0–0, 0–0, then 4–2 on p.s.o.), before losing to Tours
in the quarter-finals. The team was eventually a victim of its own success and the best players left for bigger clubs.
He spent one season as manager of Brest
(1986–87) and during this time former manager of Glasgow Rangers
to be, Paul Le Guen
, played under him. But a strained relationship with then-president François Yvinec meant he left after only one season, returning to Rennes as manager, his first professional club. Brest were relegated the following season.
As manager of Rennes from 1987 to 1992, 'Kéru' enjoyed mixed fortunes. The club finished 20th in 1992 and survived relegation only due to administrative problems of the top division clubs, Brest and Nice.
Raymond Keruzoré's career in football ended in 1997, after two seasons in Division 2 as manager of Stade Quimperois
, the club where he began playing as a youth. The club was declared insolvent and he retired from management. He lives near Rennes in Brittany.
8 under-21 caps.
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager, regarded as one the greatest players to have played for Stade Rennais, as well as one of the greatest ever Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
players.
Biography
Raymond Keruzoré's professional football career began aged 20 on 26 June 1969, when he played his debut match in Division 1Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
for Rennes against Metz (0–3). In 1971 he won the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
with Rennes, beating Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
1–0. The following season, he played 2 matches in the European Cup-Winners Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, eventually losing to Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
(1–1 in Rennes, 0–1 in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
).
He signed for Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in 1973, but only played one season, returning to Rennes the following year. For Marseille, he played 4 matches in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, demolishing Union Luxembourg
Union Luxembourg
Union Sportive Luxembourg, usually known as Union Luxembourg, was a football club, based in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is now a part of Racing FC Union Luxembourg.-History:...
13–1 on aggregate in the first round. In the second round the team played against Cologne
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, winning the first leg 2–0, but conceding six goals in the return match.
In 1975, he joined manager Michel Le Milinaire, a fellow Breton, at Stade Lavallois
Stade Lavallois
Stade Lavallois Mayenne Football Club is a French association football club based in Laval. The club was formed on 17 July 1902 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Laval plays its home matches at the Stade Francis Le Basser located in the city and is managed by...
for one of the club's most successful periods, when it won promotion to the French first division. The club then turned fully professional and against expectations retained its top-flight status until long after his departure in 1979.
While playing for Laval
Stade Lavallois
Stade Lavallois Mayenne Football Club is a French association football club based in Laval. The club was formed on 17 July 1902 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Laval plays its home matches at the Stade Francis Le Basser located in the city and is managed by...
, he won the first of two caps for the national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in a world cup qualification
1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 107 teams entered the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition....
match in 1976. 'Kéru' was in contention for the French squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
in Argentina, but did not make the final squad. This, and his lack of international caps, are largely because he played the same midfield playmaker position as Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
.
From 1979 to 1981 he played for Brest
Stade Brestois 29
Stade Brestois 29 is a French football club based in Brest. The club was founded in 1903 under the name Armoricaine de Brest and adopted its current name in 1950...
, another Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
-based club to which he would later return as manager. During this time, the team won Division 2 and was promoted to Division 1.
From 1981 to 1986, he was player-manager of Guingamp, his third Breton club. During this time, the team enjoyed one of their most successful ever periods in Division 2 and in the French Cup. In season 82–83 Guingamp knocked Laval out of the cup (0–0, 0–0, then 4–2 on p.s.o.), before losing to Tours
Tours FC
Tours Football Club is a French association football club based in Tours, the capital city of the Indre-et-Loire department. The club was formed in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Tours plays its home matches at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher located within...
in the quarter-finals. The team was eventually a victim of its own success and the best players left for bigger clubs.
He spent one season as manager of Brest
Stade Brestois 29
Stade Brestois 29 is a French football club based in Brest. The club was founded in 1903 under the name Armoricaine de Brest and adopted its current name in 1950...
(1986–87) and during this time former manager of Glasgow Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
to be, Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen is a French football manager and former player. He was recently confirmed as new manager of the Oman national football team.Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade...
, played under him. But a strained relationship with then-president François Yvinec meant he left after only one season, returning to Rennes as manager, his first professional club. Brest were relegated the following season.
As manager of Rennes from 1987 to 1992, 'Kéru' enjoyed mixed fortunes. The club finished 20th in 1992 and survived relegation only due to administrative problems of the top division clubs, Brest and Nice.
Raymond Keruzoré's career in football ended in 1997, after two seasons in Division 2 as manager of Stade Quimperois
Stade Quimpérois
Quimper Cornouaille FC is a French football team from the city of Quimper, Finistère, currently playing in Championnat de France amateur group D . The team used to be known as Stade Quimpérois.-History:...
, the club where he began playing as a youth. The club was declared insolvent and he retired from management. He lives near Rennes in Brittany.
Playing career
- 1968 to 1973 : Stade Rennais
- 1973 to 1974 : Olympique de MarseilleOlympique de MarseilleOlympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
- 1974 to 1975 : Stade Rennais
- 1975 to 1979 : Stade LavalloisStade LavalloisStade Lavallois Mayenne Football Club is a French association football club based in Laval. The club was formed on 17 July 1902 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Laval plays its home matches at the Stade Francis Le Basser located in the city and is managed by...
- 1979 to 1981 : Stade Brestois
- 1981 to 1986 : En Avant de Guingamp (player-manager)
Managerial career
- 1981 to 1986: En Avant de Guingamp (Division 2- player-manager)
- 1986 to 1987: Stade Brestois (Division 1)
- 1987 to 1992: Stade Rennais (87–91 Division 2, 90–91 Division 1)
- 1992 to 1993: Tours FC (Division 2)
- 1995 to 1997: Stade Quimpérois (Division 2)
Club honours
- 1971 Winner, French CupCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
(Stade Rennais) - 1975 Promotion to French Division 1 via play-offs (Stade Lavallois)
- 1981 Champion of French Division 2, Promotion to French Division 1 (Stade Brestois)
- 1990 Promotion to French Division 1 via play-offs (Stade Rennais)
Individual Honours
- 1976–77 (Laval) – Etoile d'Or (168pts), i.e. Award for most consistent player of the year.
- Stade Lavallois player of the century, voted by fans.
International honours
2 international caps, no goal.- 17 November 1976, Paris: France-Ireland (2–0), 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification1978 FIFA World Cup qualificationA total of 107 teams entered the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition....
match. - 11 May 1978, Toulouse: France-Iran (2–1), friendly match.
8 under-21 caps.
External links
- L'Équipe website article: "Que sont-ils devenus?" (French language: "Where are they now?") http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/QSD_Keruzore.html
- Archive article (11 May 1990) from French newspaper L'HumanitéL'HumanitéL'Humanité , formerly the daily newspaper linked to the French Communist Party , was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès, a leader of the French Section of the Workers' International...
, regarding a match between Rennes (managed by Kéru) and AS Nancy-Lorraine (managed by Michel Platini). http://www.humanite.presse.fr/journal/1990-05-11/1990-05-11-798068 - Interview transcript from France Football magazine 15 Feb 2005 http://forum.liteboard.net/message-129-814-48587-1-Que-devienstu-.html