Nicolas GOUSSÉ

Manager Lefillatre plucked a hitherto unknown striker from National (French 3rd Division) in his quest to replace the departed Merdy and Michel in 1996. Nicolas Goussé made a discreet start to life with the professionals under Le Milinaire, but this tall striker became first-choice under the management of David in the 1997/1998 season. Goussé made up for his lack of technical ability with a British-style eagerness, an efficient heading game, and a huge dose of fortune in front of the opposition goal. As a key player in the last-gasp salvation from the drop in Division 1, scoring 9 goals, he was used more as an understudy by Le Guen in the 1998/1999 season. He still managed to prove himself as a “supersub” scoring 7 goals, of which 5 came in the last quarter-hour of matches. In spite of achieving qualification for the Intertoto Cup, the club released him in July 1999. Goussé took advantage of this opening to achieve a very respectable career in more modest clubs, such as Troyes, Istres or Evian.