Smooth Azalea – Rhododendron arborescens

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Jean-Jacques Eydelie (born 3 February 1966) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is most noted for his role in the Marseille 1992–93 UEFA Champions League victory.[1]

Career

Eydelie was born in Angoulême, Charente. A midfielder, he began his career with Nantes, before joining Marseille in 1992. His first season at Marseille was a success, with the club finishing top of the league, and winning the Champions League, but shortly after the Champions League final, it was revealed that he had contacted three players at Ligue 1 club Valenciennes (Jorge Burruchaga,[2] Christophe Robert[2] and Jacques Glassman[3]) on behalf of the Marseille board, in order to offer bribes. Marseille needed to beat Valenciennes to secure the championship, and had induced the Valenciennes players to "go easy" in order that the Marseille players would not be overly exerted before the Champions League final.[4] It was Glassman who reported the bribe, which resulted in Marseille being stripped of the 1993 French title, banned from defending the Champions League (although the win still stood), and relegated to Ligue 2. Eydelie was banned for a year by FIFA, given a one-year suspended sentence, and served 17 days in prison. Members of the Marseille board were given longer prison sentences, and Valenciennes players Burruchaga and Robert received FIFA bans for their involvement.[3]

Upon his return to football, Eydelie had a nomadic career. He trained for a few months at Benfica, played in England, Switzerland and back in France before retiring in 2003.

From 2006 to 2007 he was the manager of amateur club Limoges Foot 87.

In 2006, Eydelie released his autobiography, telling of corruption and doping during his time at Marseille.[1] Former OM chairman Bernard Tapie sued unsuccessfully for libel,[5] and former teammate Didier Deschamps has also threatened legal action.[6]

Honours

Marseille

References

  1. ^ a b "Wenger slams former Marseille Chairman". Eurosport. 23 January 2006. Archived from the original on 17 March 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Argentine Charged in Marseille case". New York Times. 2 July 1993. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Tapie Directly Implicated As Marseille Trial Opens". International Herald Tribute. 14 March 1995. Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  4. ^ "From Glory to Disgrace: Soccer Saga Grips Marseille". International Herald Tribune. 12 July 1992. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  5. ^ "Former Marseille chairman to sue ex-player for libel". ESPN Soccernet. 22 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  6. ^ "Dishing the Dirt". World Cup Blog. 17 February 2006. Archived from the original on 26 February 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2007.

External links

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