Joël Bats

Football player infobox
playername = Joël Bats
fullname = Joël Bats
dateofbirth = January 4, 1957
cityofbirth = Mont-de-Marsan
countryofbirth = France
height = 5' 10" (1'78)
currentclub = retired
clubnumber =
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1974-80
1980-85
1985-92
clubs = FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
AJ Auxerre
Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
Total
caps(goals) = ? (?)
184 (0)
216 (0)
"'? (?)
nationalyears = 1983-89
nationalteam = France
nationalcaps(goals) = 50 (0)
manageryears = 1992-1994
1994-1996
1996-1998
1998-1999
2000-
managerclubs = Paris SG "(goalkeeping coach)"
Paris SG "(assistant coach)"
Paris SG
LB Châteauroux
Olympique Lyonnais "(goalkeeping coach)"

Joël Bats (born January 4 1957 in Mont-de-Marsan) is a French former football goalkeeper who played 50 times for the French national football team.

Bats began his professional career with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 1974, moving on to newly promoted AJ Auxerre the following year. He became undisputed number one at Auxerre (having had to contest the jersey with Albert Rust at Sochaux) and soon found his way into the France squad, being selected for the 1984 European Championship which France won. He was number one at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, famously saving a penalty from Zico in the quarter final against Brazil. His international career continued until 1989.

At club level Bats moved on to Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and was their keeper during their first Ligue 1 success in 1986. Bats remained the club's keeper until announcing his retirement in 1992. He then joined the PSG coaching staff, assisting Artur Jorge and Luis Fernández before being named trainer in 1996. He led the club to a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in 1997 but a disappointing second season and a series of boardroom changes saw him replaced by Alain Giresse. Following a brief, undistinguished spell in charge of L.B. Châteauroux Bats was appointed goalkeeping coach at Olympique Lyonnais in 2000, a post he still occupies.

Career as a coach

* 1992-1994 : (goalkeeping coach) Paris SG
* 1994-1996 : (assistant coach) Paris SG
* 1996-1998 : Paris SG with Ricardo Gomes
* 1998-1999 : LB Châteauroux
* 2000- : (goalkeeping coach) Olympique Lyonnais

External links

* [http://www.histoaja.free.fr/joueurs/bats.htm Auxerre career (in French)]
* [http://www.planetepsg.com/?page=fiche&j=Bats&id=175 Profile from PSG site (in French)]
* [http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/historique.php?cherche_joueur=bats International career (in French)]