Jean-Pierre BRUCATO

Born in the Val de Marne area in the Paris region, and developed at Joinville, Jean-Pierre Brucato began his professional playing career with Stade Rennais in 1962. He was a versatile player, and a regular member of the starting line-up in midfield, as part of the 3-2-5 formation used at the time. In his last season at the club, he played at centre-back, when the Rennes manager of the day moved towards a 4-2-4 system in 1964/1965. Whilst not systematically in the starting line-up during their victorious French Cup campaign in 1965, he still made a few appearances in the cup run, including the replayed final against Sedan. He would subsequently move on to RC Paris in the Second Division where he spent a season. In 1966, he migrated to Corsica, signing for AC Ajaccio, with whom he would win the Second Division title in his first season there, and then played in the First Division for the club. As a seasoned professional in the top flight, he was recruited by Reims in 1970, playing the majority of his games for the club at left-back for the six seasons he would spend there. He would end his professional playing days at Angers between 1976 and 1979, starting in the Second Division, and retiring with Angers in the First Division. After Angers, he continued playing in amateur football, notably with Thouars, where he would begin his coaching career, which led him to take on the role of manager at Saint-Brieuc, Porto Vecchio and then Alès. He then became a football agent, and scout for Montpellier for a brief spell. On 22nd March 1998, he suffered a heart-attack whilst out cycling, and sadly passed away in Lisieux in Normandy, aged just 54.