Bernard Lacombe

Bernard Lacombe (; 15 August 1952 – 17 June 2025) was a French professional football player and manager. He played as a striker, mainly with Lyon, Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne and the France national team.

Career

Lacombe began his professional career with hometown club Lyon in 1969. One of his teammates, Aimé Jacquet, would be later his team manager (and the manager of the France national team which won the 1998 FIFA World Cup).

Lacombe earned his first cap for France in 1973. He went on to represent his nation at the 1978 World Cup, scoring after only 30 seconds against Italy, the fastest goal ever for a French player, and also the first goal of that tournament. Lacombe also played at the 1982 World Cup and won UEFA Euro 1984.

After a brief stay with Saint-Étienne, Lacombe joined Bordeaux, where he was re-united with Aimé Jacquet. He won three French Ligue 1 championships. Lacombe won the Coupe de France twice (with Lyon and Bordeaux), and scored a goal in the 1973 Coupe de France Final.

With 255 goals scored in Ligue 1, he is the second-best striker of all-time in the French championship, after Delio Onnis.

After his playing career ended, Lacombe joined the technical staff of former club Lyon, first as technical manager (from 1988 to 1996), then as trainer (1996 to 2000) and manager. He was instrumental in the successes of the club in Ligue 1 and also on the European scene, helping lead his side to seven-straight UEFA Champions League appearances. Lacombe served as a "special adviser" to team president Jean-Michel Aulas for twenty years. He also had significant influence on choices made; for example, he helped retain several Brazilian players who would join Lyon during the 2000s, including Juninho, Edmílson, Cris, Caçapa and Fred.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lyon	1969–70	Division 1	5	1			—		5	1
	1970–71		3	0			—		3	0
	1971–72		36	19			—		36	19
	1972–73		35	23			—		35	23
	1973–74		31	13			4Template:Efn	1	35	14
	1974–75		27	17			4Template:Efn	4	31	21
	1975–76		16	5			0	0	16	5
	1976–77		36	21			—		36	21
	1977–78		33	24			—		33	24
	Total		222	123			8	5	230	128
Saint-Étienne	1978–79	Division 1	32	14			—		32	14
Bordeaux	1979–80	Division 1	33	11			—		33	11
	1980–81		34	18			—		34	18
	1981–82		33	17			3Template:Efn	1	36	18
	1982–83		33	20			6Template:Efn	0	39	20
	1983–84		35	18			2Template:Efn	0	37	18
	1984–85		36	22			8Template:Efn	3	44	25
	1985–86		23	7			1Template:Efn	0	24	7
	1986–87		16	5			2Template:Efn	0	18	5
	Total		243	118			22	4	265	122
Career total			497	255			30	9	527	264

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
France	1973	1	0
	1974	3	2
	1975	—
	1976	3	1
	1977	4	0
	1978	6	1
	1979	4	4
	1980	3	1
	1981	3	2
	1982	5	0
	1983	—
	1984	6	1
Total		38	12

Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lacombe goal.

List of international goals scored by Bernard Lacombe

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	27 April 1974	Letná Stadium, Prague, Czechoslovakia	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Czechoslovakia	flag alias = Flag of the Czech Republic.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Bohemia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval_Ensign_of_Czechoslovakia_1935-1939_1945-1955.svg	link alias-naval = Czechoslovakian Naval Forces	link alias-army = Czechoslovak Army	flag alias-navy = Naval_Ensign_of_Czechoslovakia_1935-1939_1945-1955.svg	link alias-navy = Czechoslovakian Naval Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–3 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
2				3–2
3	9 October 1976	Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Bulgaria	flag alias = Flag of Bulgaria.svg	flag alias-digital = Flag of Bulgaria (digital).svg	flag alias-1878 = Flag of Bulgaria.svg	flag alias-1947 = Flag of Bulgaria (1946–1948).svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Bulgaria (1948–1967).svg	flag alias-1968 = Flag of Bulgaria (1967-1971).svg	flag alias-1971 = Flag of Bulgaria (1971–1990).svg	flag alias-naval-1879 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1878-1944).svg	flag alias-naval-1949 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1949-1955).svg	flag alias-naval-1955 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1955-1990).svg	flag alias-naval-1991 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria 1991-2005.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg	link alias-naval = Bulgarian Navy	flag alias-army = War flag of Bulgaria.svg	link alias-army = Bulgarian Land Forces	link alias-air force = Bulgarian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg	link alias-navy = Bulgarian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–2 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	2 June 1978	World Cup Stadium, Mar del Plata, Argentina	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Italy	flag alias = Flag of Italy.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Italy (1861–1946).svg	flag alias-1943 = War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg	flag alias-2003 = Flag of Italy (2003–2006).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-navy-1947 = Naval Ensign of Italy (1947-2013).svg	link alias-naval = Italian Navy	link alias-air force = Italian Air Force	link alias-army = Italian Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	link alias-navy = Italian Navy	link alias-roller hockey = Italy {{{mw}}} national roller hockey team	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|1–2 || 1978 FIFA World Cup
5	7 May 1979	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = United States	flag alias = Flag of the United States.svg	flag alias-1776 = Flag of the United States (1776–1777).svg	flag alias-1777 = Flag of the United States (1777–1795).svg	flag alias-1777-Ross = Betsy Ross flag.svg	flag alias-1795 = Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg	flag alias-1795FM = Flag of the United States (1795–1818).svg	flag alias-1818 = Flag of the United States (1818-1819).svg	flag alias-1819 = Flag of the United States (1819-1820).svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of the United States (1820-1822).svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of the United States (1822–1836).svg	flag alias-1836 = Flag of the United States (1836-1837).svg	flag alias-1837 = Flag of the United States (1837-1845).svg	flag alias-1845 = Flag of the United States (1845-1846).svg	flag alias-1846 = Flag of the United States (1846-1847).svg	flag alias-1847 = Flag of the United States (1847-1848).svg	flag alias-1848 = Flag of the United States (1848-1851).svg	flag alias-1851 = Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg	flag alias-1858 = Flag of the United States (1858-1859).svg	flag alias-1859 = Flag of the United States (1859-1861).svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg	flag alias-1863 = Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg	flag alias-1865 = Flag of the United States (1865-1867).svg	flag alias-1867 = Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg	flag alias-1877 = Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg	flag alias-1890 = Flag of the United States (1890-1891).svg	flag alias-1891 = Flag of the United States (1891-1896).svg	flag alias-1896 = Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg	flag alias-1908 = Flag of the United States (1908-1912).svg	flag alias-1912 = Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of the United States (1959–1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of the United States (Web Colors).svg	flag alias-pantone = Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg	flag alias-yacht = United States yacht flag.svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the United States Air Force.svg	flag alias-coast guard-1799 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1799).png	flag alias-coast guard-1815 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1815).png	flag alias-coast guard-1836 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1836).png	flag alias-coast guard-1841 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1841).png	flag alias-coast guard-1867 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1867).png	flag alias-coast guard-1868 = Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1868).png	flag alias-coast guard-1915 = Ensign of the United States Coast Guard (1915-1953).png	flag alias-coast guard-1953 = Ensign of the United States Coast Guard.svg	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the United States Coast Guard.svg	link alias-coast guard = United States Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Flag of the United States Army.svg	link alias-naval = United States Navy	flag alias-navy-1864 = Flag of the United States Navy (1864-1959).svg	flag alias-navy = Flag of the United States Navy (official).svg	link alias-navy = United States Navy	link alias-marines = United States Marine Corps	flag alias-marines-1914 = Flag of the United States Marine Corps (1914-1939).png	flag alias-marines = Flag of the United States Marine Corps.svg	link alias-merchant marine = United States Merchant Marine	flag alias-merchant marine = Flag of the United States Merchant Marine Higher Resolution.jpg	flag alias-space force = Flag of the United States Space Force.svg	link alias-military = United States Armed Forces	link alias-football = United States men's national soccer team	link alias-Australian rules football = United States men's national Australian rules football team	flag alias-23px = Flag of the United States (23px).png	empty = USA Selects	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|6–0 || rowspan="3"|Friendly
6				2–0
7				3–0
8	5 September 1979	Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Sweden	flag alias = Flag of Sweden.svg	flag alias-army = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	flag alias-air force =Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	flag alias-1818 = Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg	flag alias-1844 = Swedish civil ensign (1844–1905).svg	flag alias-1905 = Flag of Sweden (pre-1906).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	flag alias-naval-1844 = Naval Ensign of Sweden (1844-1905).svg	flag alias-naval-1815 = Ensign of Sweden and Norway (1815–1844).svg	link alias-army = Swedish Army	link alias-air force = Swedish Air Force	link alias-naval = Swedish Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	link alias-navy = Swedish Navy	link alias-football = Sweden men's national football team	border-army =	border-air force =	border-naval =	border-navy =	border-naval-1815 =	border-naval-1844 =	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|3–1 || UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
9	11 October 1980	Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Cyprus	flag alias = Flag of Cyprus.svg	flag alias-1878 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1881 = Flag of Cyprus (1881–1922).svg	flag alias-colonial = Blue Ensign of Cyprus (1922).svg	flag alias-April 1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960–2006).svg	link alias-army = Cypriot Ground Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|7–0 || 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
10	5 December 1981	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Cyprus	flag alias = Flag of Cyprus.svg	flag alias-1878 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1881 = Flag of Cyprus (1881–1922).svg	flag alias-colonial = Blue Ensign of Cyprus (1922).svg	flag alias-April 1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960–2006).svg	link alias-army = Cypriot Ground Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
11				3–0
12	1 June 1984	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Scotland	flag alias = Flag of Scotland.svg	flag alias-1542 = Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg	link alias-football = Scotland men's national football team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || Friendly

Honours

Player

Lyon

• Coupe de France: 1972–73
• Trophée des Champions: 1973

Bordeaux

• Division 1: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87
• Coupe de France: 1985–86, 1986–87
• Trophée des Champions: 1986

France

• UEFA European Championship: 1984

Manager

Lyon

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1997

External links

• Template:FFF player
• Template:UEFA player
• Template:First word/index.html Template:PAGENAMEBASE – FIFA competition record (archived)Template:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck