Papin returns to football: he will be coach of Chartres

Ballon d'Or in 1991. Jean-Pierre Papin hung up his boots in 1998, but then he was active for almost a decade playing in low-level teams, almost amateurs. Excellent scorer, conquered the Champions in the ranks of Milan in 1994 after losing the previous edition to his 'beloved' Olympique de Marseille. Chosen top scorer in the French league five times, achieved titles with Bruges, Marseille, Milan and Bayern Munich. In all he made many goals. As with the France team (31 goals in 55 games), according to data collected in Transfermarkt. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico finished third.

Now the legendary French striker and one of the best scorers of the 20th century returns to the pitch. Although at 56, Papin will not do it as a player but as a coach. It is not the first time that you will sit on a bench. He began his career as a coach in the modest Bassin d'Arcachon in 2004. Then the opportunity would come to direct the Strasbourg, who was promoted to Ligue 1 in 2006-2007 to later leave for Lens, with which he had no luck and dropped in 2008. His last experience was short-lived in the Chateauroux, from the second gala division, in 2010.

Since then he was dedicated to helping a foundation of children with cerebral palsy (disease that affects one of his daughters) and to be a sports analyst and television commentator. “I have had very good experiences, others bad. In football the past is quickly forgotten. If you leave this circle, it is difficult to return. Every time it has happened to me in my career, I have started at the base. It is what I need now, “said Papin to justify his return to green. The French myth has signed for a year, with two other options with FC Chartres, of the National 2 group B (fourth division of French football).