Raymond Domenech
Encyclopedia
Raymond Domenech is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.

2006 World Cup

On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the eventual tournament-upset winners Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...

. He was given the objective by the FFF to reach "at least" the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

 semi-finals.

Qualifying

France struggled in the qualifiers, even though the team was seeded in a group that included the relatively unheralded teams of Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...

 and Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...

. The Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....

 were France's main contenders in the group, and looked like contributing to France's exit until Zinédine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...

 returned to inspire France to a 1–0 win at Landsdowne Road, ultimately ending the hopes of the Irish. Domenech had to force Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélelé Sinda is a retired football player who used to play as a defensive midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Prior to joining Paris Saint-Germain, Makélélé played for Nantes, Olympique de Marseille, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea...

, Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram is a retired professional football defender and is the most capped player in the history of the France national team, and one of the twenty most capped players of all time.He played at the top flight in France, Italy and Spain for over 15 seasons, including ten in the Serie A with both...

 and Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...

, members of France's "golden generation," out of international retirement to aid the national team to eventually qualify. The general consensus in France, however, was that France was too dated a side to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

, despite the return of their cherished talisman, Zidane.

Squad selection

A keen amateur dramatist and astrologer, Domenech has admitted to distrusting Scorpio
Scorpio (astrology)
|Infobox align="right" style="border:3px solid white;"||style="text-align: center;"|Scorpio is the eighth astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 210th and 239th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between 24 October and...

s, such as Robert Pirès
Robert Pirès
Robert Emmanuel Pirès is a former French international footballer. He is perhaps best known for his time with Arsenal, with whom he won three FA Cups and two FA Premier League titles including the club's famous unbeaten season of 2003–04...

. This led to the choosing of Vikash Dhorasoo who played an important part in qualifying but not in the finals. He later fell out with Dhorasoo after he made a behind the scenes film called "Substitute
Substitute (film)
Substitute is a film by French former footballer Vikash Dhorasoo. Filmed before and during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Dhorasoo "recorded his thoughts and feelings throughout the tournament," resulting in a "deeply unconventional sporting film".-Trivia:...

". His decision to leave out FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....

 star Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly is a French footballer who plays for Monaco as an attacking midfielder and winger. He represented France at international level, gaining 17 caps over a five-year period, and was a member of their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad.-Early career:After starting his career with...

 in favour of Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and...

, and subsequent refusal to explain that decision, left many French players and fans mystified. Domenech chose Pascal Chimbonda
Pascal Chimbonda
Pascal Chimbonda is a French footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers, having been released early from a short term deal by Queens Park Rangers...

, a low-profile player with no face or international experience, for the squad. Domenech's selection for France's World Cup squad was further criticised when he publicly announced that Fabien Barthez
Fabien Barthez
Fabien Alain Barthez is a former French footballer goalkeeper who won honours with Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets...

 would start ahead of Olympique Lyonnais
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...

 goalkeeper Grégory Coupet
Grégory Coupet
Grégory Coupet is a retired French association football goalkeeper who last played for Paris Saint-Germain. He has played for clubs such as Saint-Étienne, Lyon, Atlético Madrid. He has also played for the France national team....

. This decision was met with derision in the French press and also led to Coupet walking out of the national squad before the tournament, though he was later to return. His exclusion of Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...

 back-bone defender Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian Serie A club Milan and for the French national team.-Auxerre:...

 also raised a few eyebrows. Mexès, despite being named "Hope of the Year" in 2000 and being a starting defender for Roma since his arrival to the team, never played in a competitive senior tournament under Domenech.

Finals in Germany

France had a slow start in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

, recording draws against Switzerland and South Korea
Korea Republic national football team
The Korea Republic national football team represents Korea Republic in international football and is controlled by the Korea Football Association. Korea Republic is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in eight World Cup tournaments,...

 before finally defeating Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...

. However, France turned the corner after the victory against Togo and started to play passing possession football, as it had in its triumphs in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...

 and UEFA Euro 2000. They shone in the knockout rounds, which included impressive victories over favoured Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...

, Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...

, and Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...

. France lost the final to Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...

 in a penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

Recalled golden generation veterans Zidane and Thuram earned spots on the All-Star Team, with Zidane being awarded the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament despite receiving a red card in the final (the voting was done before Zidane received the red card).

Euro 2008

On 27 August 2007, Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélelé Sinda is a retired football player who used to play as a defensive midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Prior to joining Paris Saint-Germain, Makélélé played for Nantes, Olympique de Marseille, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea...

's club manager, José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....

, stated that Domenech was treating Makélélé "like a slave," since Domenech had called him up for Euro 2008 qualifiers even though Makélélé had announced his retirement after the 2006 World Cup. Domenech responded, "As long as he can walk, he will play. I have the right to pick him." A 3–0 shutout of Georgia and a 3–1 defeat of Italy in the first Euro 2008 qualifiers took France back to the top of the ELO rankings. France ended up last in their UEFA Euro 2008 Group C
UEFA Euro 2008 Group C
Group C of the 2008 UEFA European Championships is one of four groups of competing nations at UEFA Euro 2008. The first of three rounds of matches took place on 9 June, and finished on 17 June. All six group matches were played at venues in Switzerland, in Zürich and Berne. The group is composed of...

 and failed to advance in the tournament after losing to Italy 0–2.

World Cup 2010

France qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...

 only after defeating the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....

 in a play-off. The game
France vs Republic of Ireland 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off
The France vs Republic of Ireland 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off, dubbed by the media as the Hand of Frog affair, was a controversial association football game played on 18 November 2009 in the Stade de France outside Paris between the national teams of France and the Republic of Ireland...

 was controversial, as Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...

 handled the ball before setting up William Gallas
William Gallas
William Eric Gallas is a French footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur.Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to rivals Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006...

 to score the winning goal. The offence was missed by the referee, Martin Hansson
Martin Hansson
Martin Hansson is a Swedish football referee. Hansson currently resides in Holmsjö. He has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2001....

.

In the first game of the finals, France drew with Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...

 0–0. Following their draw with Uruguay, Zidane described Domenech as having lost control of the team. The draw was then followed by a 2–0 defeat to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...

, during which striker Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka
Abdul-Salam Bilal on 14 March 1979) is a French international footballer, who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Chelsea. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team...

 reportedly directed an expletive-laden tirade at Domenech. Anelka would be dismissed from the team the next day. The day after Anelka's dismissal, team captain Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...

 and team trainer Robert Duverne had a heated confrontation that caused Domenech to physically restrain Duverne; the players responded by returning to the team bus and refusing to continue with practice. After the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...

 condemned the player boycott, the team returned to practice without further incident. France's World Cup campaign ended with a 2–1 defeat to South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...

, meaning Les Bleus finished at the bottom of Group A. Domenech bowed out by refusing to shake the hand of South Africa's coach in the final game, Carlos Alberto Parreira
Carlos Alberto Parreira
Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira is a Brazilian former football manager. He managed Brazil to championships at the 1994 World Cup, the 2004 Copa América, and the 2005 Confederations Cup...

.

Career

  • 1969–1977: played for 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...

    . Won 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...

    in 1973.
  • 1977–1981: played for Strasbourg
    RC Strasbourg
    Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...

    . Won Championnat de France
    Ligue 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....

    in 1979.
  • 1981–1982: played for Paris Saint-Germain
  • 1982–1984: played for Bordeaux
    FC Girondins de Bordeaux
    Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....

    . Won 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...

    in 1984.
  • 1984: retired at the end of a playing career which saw him earn 8 international caps.
  • 1985–1989: a year after retiring, moved into management of Mulhouse
    FC Mulhouse
    Football Club de Mulhouse is a French association football club based in Mulhouse. The club was founded in 1893 and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football. Mulhouse plays its home matches at the Stade de l'Ill located within the city...

  • 1989–1993: manager of 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...

  • 1993–2004: manager of French youth team
  • 2004–2010: manager of the French national team
  • 2010: manager of the under-11s youth team at Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt

Career statistics

|-
|1970–71
French football Division 1 1970-71
Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1970/1971 of the French Association Football League with 55 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||rowspan="8"|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...

||rowspan="8"|Division 1
Ligue 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....

||37||2||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1971–72
French football Division 1 1971-72
Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1971/1972 of the French Association Football League with 56 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||32||1||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1972–73
French football Division 1 1972-73
FC Nantes won Division 1 season 1972/1973 of the French Association Football League with 55 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Promoted from Division 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1973/1974...

||38||0||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1973–74
French football Division 1 1973-74
AS Saint-Etienne won Division 1 season 1973/1974 of the French Association Football League with 66 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||27||0||||||||||3||0||||
|-
|1974–75
French football Division 1 1974-75
AS Saint-Etienne won Division 1 season 1974/1975 of the French Association Football League with 58 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||35||3||||||||||4||3||||
|-
|1975–76
French football Division 1 1975-76
AS Saint-Etienne won Division 1 season 1975/1976 of the French Association Football League with 57 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||36||0||||||||||2||0||||
|-
|1976–77
French football Division 1 1976-77
FC Nantes won Division 1 season 1976/1977 of the French Association Football League with 58 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Promoted from Division 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1977/1978...

||34||1||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1977–78
French football Division 1 1977-78
AS Monaco won Division 1 season 1977/1978 of the French Association Football League with 53 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Promoted from Division 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1978/1979...

||7||0||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1977–78
French football Division 1 1977-78
AS Monaco won Division 1 season 1977/1978 of the French Association Football League with 53 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Promoted from Division 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1978/1979...

||rowspan="4"|Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...

||rowspan="4"|Division 1
Ligue 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....

||30||1||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1978–79
French football Division 1 1978-79
RC Strasbourg won Division 1 season 1978/1979 of the French Association Football League with 56 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||37||2||||||||||5||0||||
|-
|1979–80
French football Division 1 1979-80
FC Nantes won Division 1 season 1979/1980 of the French Association Football League with 57 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Promoted from Division 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1980/1981...

||38||1||||||||||6||0||||
|-
|1980–81
French football Division 1 1980-81
AS Saint-Etienne won Division 1 season 1980/1981 of the French Association Football League with 57 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||23||0||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1981–82
French football Division 1 1981-82
AS Monaco won Division 1 season 1981/1982 of the French Association Football League with 55 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Promoted from Division 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1982/1983...

||Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain FC
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club , also known simply as Paris Saint-Germain and familiarly as Paris SG or PSG , is a professional association football club based in Paris, France. The club was founded on 12 August 1970, thanks to the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain...

||Division 1
Ligue 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....

||19||1||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
|-
|1982–83
French football Division 1 1982-83
FC Nantes won Division 1 season 1982/1983 of the French Association Football League with 58 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||rowspan="2"|Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....

||rowspan="2"|Division 1
Ligue 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....

||18||2||||||||||5||0||||
|-
|1983–84
French football Division 1 1983-84
Girondins de Bordeaux won Division 1 season 1983/1984 of the French Association Football League with 54 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...

||22||1||||||||||2||0||||
433||15||||||||||27||3||||
433||15||||||||||27||3||||
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