Georges HATZ

Georges Hatz was a goalkeeper, born in the Essonne region near Paris. He began his footballing journey with the amateur side Montgeron, rather ironically, as an outfield player, playing in a central rôle. He became a goalkeeper as a result of being inspired by the Sète goalkeeper of the time, René Llense. So, he tried his luck as a professional footballer in that position. He would soon become a talented shot-stopper, and his first club was Red Star, although he didn't turn professional until the 1937/1938 season. Unused in the First Team, he bided his time in the Reserves for two seasons. He eventually made his professional debut in 1939, when he replaced the first-choice goalkeeper of the day, Desfossés, who was suspended. His run in the side was cut short by the event of the Second World War, where he was called up to the front, and suffered an injury to his kidney, which was damaged by the debris from an exploding incendiary device. He didn't return to playing football until November 1940, at which point he alternated between the Professional side and the Reserves of the Paris club. He finally became undisputed first-choice goalkeeper in the 1942/1943 season, with an interlude iin the 1943/1944 season where he played for Rouen-Normandie team with football becoming regionalised for a time. In 1944, he was picked as the substitute for the international match between France and Belgium. His spell with Red Star came to an end in June 1945, as two months previously, he had lost his place through injury, with a fractured collarbone. After his convalescene, he would sign for Lille, with whom he was put in direct competition with Witkowski, and Hatz quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper at the club. It proved to be a great first season for him, winning the First Division Championship and the French Cup with Lille in 1946. His journey would take him onto Rennes, thereafter, and there he would take the place of Jacques de Montmarin as first-choice keeper as of November 1946. He stayed with the Red and Blacks until 1948, whilst working part time as a furrier. He would bring an end to his playing career with Stade Français/Red Star, between 1948 and 1950. He would then drop into amateur football, where he went on, initially, to take on the role of Player/Manager with AJ Auxerre. His club would be denied promotion to Division d'Honneur, which they had earned on the pitch in 1951, because their goalkeeper had a dual licence. Without money, AJ Auxerre were obliged to release him in 1952. He ended his coaching career with Chamois Niortais between 1953 and 1955, before retiring from the game altogether.