Didier NOTHEAUX

Born in Normandy in Déville-lès-Rouen, Didier Notheaux started his journey as a footballer for a few seasons as a youngster in his home town. The defender was then recruited in 1960 by FC Rouen, aged 12, to continue his development. He linked up with the professional side at the club in 1970 in the Second Division, and rapidly became a first team regular in the starting line-up in his debut season. He would spend four years with the club, totalling 140 appearances, scoring 20-odd goals. As a defender, he was strong in the air. He left Normandy in 1974 to continue his career with RC Lens who were in the First Division at the time. Playing mainly in central defence, and nicknamed "Attila", he would be used on several occasions in the unexpected role of centre-forward with the club from the North of France. In 1976, he signed for Stade Rennais, who had just gained promotion back to the top flight. As with all the clubs he played for, he would become first-choice in the Rennes side, and played in virtually every game for them. He would stay for just one season at the club, however, as the Red and Blacks were forced by their dire financial situation to sell off their key players, and he would subsequently sign for his former club FC Rouen in 1977, where he would play out his last three years as a professional footballer. He then converted to football management, managing several clubs in the French First and Second Divisions, such as Le Havre, Mulhouse, Reims, Sochaux, Valenciennes and Rennes, where he replaced Kéruzoré between 1991 and 1993 as First Team Manager. He even took over the reins as national team coach of Burkina Faso and Benin, and also a Chinese league club. With his experience as a manager, he was invited to work as a football pundit for television. He passed away after battling with cancer, aged 73, on 18th August 2021.