Robert Herbin

Football player infobox
playername= Robert Herbin


fullname = Robert Herbin
height =
nickname = "Le sphinx"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1939|3|30
cityofbirth = Paris
countryofbirth = France
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
position = Defender-Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs = Cavigal de Nice
years = 1957-1972
1974-1975
clubs = AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
caps(goals) = 382 (77)
1 (1)
nationalyears = 1960-1968
nationalteam = France
nationalcaps(goals) = 23 (3)
manageryears = 1972-1983
1983-1985
1985-September 1986
September 1986-1987
1987-1990
November 1991-1995
managerclubs = AS Saint-Étienne
Olympique Lyonnais
Al-Nasr
RC Strasbourg
AS Saint-Étienne
Red Star Saint-Ouen

Robert Herbin (born 30 March, 1939 is a French former football defender and manager.

Biography

He was formed at Cavigal de Nice but OGC Nice one of the best French team at the moment did not recruit him so that he went to AS Saint-Étienne in 1957, becoming one of the best prospects of French football.A defensive midfielder, he is comfortable in the fashioned 4-2-4 system at the beginning of the 1960s, providing his physique to his team.He become important for France, 4th at Euro 1960 and a member of the FIFA World Cup 1966 squad in England.He is a cornerstone of the first generation of great AS Saint-Étienne winning four titles in a row, from 1967 to 1970.For the 1969-1970, coach Albert Batteux move Herbin at fullback along with Bernard Bosquier.The association is successful, and Herbin will remain at that position till the end of his career.After Albert Batteux departure, Herbin become one of the youngest coach in France, at the age of 33.He uses AS Saint-Étienne's youth academy which gives him talentuous young players:Gérard Janvion, Dominique Bathenay, Jacques Santini and Dominique Rocheteau.He builds one of the best team in Europe, but fails in UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich, because of the famous "squared goalposts" of Hampden Park in Glasgow.Thanks to him and to the arrival of Michel Platini at summer of 1979, "les verts" remains at the top of French football winning their last French championship in 1981.Herbin, close to president Roger Rocher must leave with him in 1983 and joins Olympique Lyonnais, the great rival of AS Saint-Étienne but can't save the team from relegation.Then, he would coach Al-Nasr andRC Strasbourg, before coming back at AS Saint-Étienne in 1987, but the glorius past of the team is far away and Herbin leave the club in 1990.He would end his managerial career at Red Star Saint-Ouen before working for French Football Federation, at the federal council.

Trivia

*Herbin was well known for his red hair.
*He is the only modern coach in French football who scored a goal for his team:During the last match of 1974-75 season, at the age of 36, he played as fullback against Troyes AC and scored a penalty.AS Saint-Étienne was already champion.

Titles

**As a player
*French championship in 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 with AS Saint-Étienne
*Coupe de France 1962, 1968, and 1970 with AS Saint-Étienne

**As a coach
*French championship in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1981 with AS Saint-Étienne
*Coupe de France 1974, 1975, and 1977 with AS Saint-Étienne
*UEFA Champions League runner-up in 1976 with AS Saint-Étienne

External links

* [http://ziplatko.sport24.com/Robert-HERBIN--23--09092005-144804-lp-93627.php Profile]
* [http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/historique.php?cherche_joueur=herbin Profile on French federation official site]
* [http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur9352.html Stats at lequipe.fr]