Raymond Kopa
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography
Raymond Kopa (né Kopaszewski;[1] 13 October 1931 – 3 March 2017) was a French professional footballer, integral to the France national team of the 1950s. At club level he was part of the legendary Real Madrid team of the 1950s, winning three European Cups.
Considered one of the greatest players of all-time,[2][3][4] Kopa was a forward or an attacking midfielder who was quick, agile and known for his dribbling, playmaking, and prolific scoring.[5] In 1958, Kopa was awarded the Ballon d'Or. In 1970, he became the first football player to receive the Legion of Honour. In 2004, Pelé named him one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony.
Early life
Kopa was born to a family of Polish immigrants.[6] His grandparents were originally from Kraków and migrated to Germany, where his parents were born. They then migrated to France after the First World War.[7]
His surname was shortened to Kopa from Kopaszewski while he was at school. He acquired French nationality at his majority in 1952.[7] At the age of 14, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and brother by working in the coal mines of Nœux-les-Mines. During this time Kopa lost a finger in a mining accident.[1]
Personal life
Kopa married Christiane, the sister of a teammate of his at Angers. After retiring from the game he launched his own sportswear brand, eventually settling in Corsica.[1] Kopa died in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, on 3 March 2017, aged 85.[8]
Kopa was mentored by Paul Sinibaldi. Sinibaldi was the godfather to Kopa's son.[9]
Career
After finishing second in the French national youth football trials in 1949,[1] Kopa began his professional career at age 17 with Angers in Ligue 2 and was transferred two years later to Reims, with whom he won French championships in 1953 and 1955. He won the 1953 Latin Cup with Reims, where they defeated Milan 3–0 in the final, and helped them reach the 1956 European Cup Final, which the team lost to Alfredo Di Stéfano's Real Madrid, 4–3.[10]
Kopa had first attracted attention in Spain when he played for France against Spain in a match in Madrid in March 1955, after which the Spanish sports newspaper Marca nicknaming him "Little Napoleon".[1] Kopa was transferred to Real Madrid for the 1956–57 season, where he was soon joined by Ferenc Puskás. Despite playing as an inside right at Real Madrid rather than as the no. 10, his usual position, Kopa helped the club to three successive European cup victories and the Spanish league title in 1957 and 1958. Kopa was also the first French player to win the European Cup when Madrid defeated Fiorentina 2–0 in the 1957 final. He would go on to be European champion again in 1958 and 1959, the latter against former side Reims, where Just Fontaine was playing. In the 1959–60 season, Kopa returned to France to finish his career with Reims, where he won further Championnats in 1960 and 1962. In total, he scored 75 goals in 346 matches in France's top flight, and was awarded the Ballon d'Or by France Football in 1958.[11]
With the France national team, Kopa scored 18 goals in 45 matches between 1952 and 1962. He played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, scoring three goals as he led France to the semi-finals, where they succumbed to a strong Brazil team. The French team finished third in the tournament.[12]
In March 2004, Kopa was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.[13] In 2018, France Football's Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young football player in the calendar year was named in Raymond's honor. The first recipient was fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé.[14]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Angers | 1949–50 | Division 2 | ||||||||
| 1950–51 | Division 2 | |||||||||
| Total | 60 | 15 | ||||||||
| Reims | 1951–52 | Division 1 | 33 | 8 | ||||||
| 1952–53 | Division 1 | 33 | 13 | |||||||
| 1953–54 | Division 1 | 31 | 11 | |||||||
| 1954–55 | Division 1 | 31 | 11 | |||||||
| 1955–56 | Division 1 | 30 | 5 | |||||||
| Total | 158 | 48 | ||||||||
| Real Madrid | 1956–57 | La Liga | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 30 | 8 |
| 1957–58 | La Liga | 27 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 34 | 11 | |
| 1958–59 | La Liga | 30 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 37 | 11 | |
| Total | 79 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 6 | 101 | 30 | ||
| Reims | 1959–60 | Division 1 | 36 | 14 | ||||||
| 1960–61 | Division 1 | 30 | 5 | |||||||
| 1961–62 | Division 1 | 30 | 2 | |||||||
| 1962–63 | Division 1 | 34 | 1 | |||||||
| 1963–64 | Division 1 | 25 | 5 | |||||||
| 1964–65 | Division 2 | 29 | 3 | |||||||
| 1965–66 | Division 2 | 27 | 3 | |||||||
| 1966–67 | Division 1 | 33 | 3 | |||||||
| Total | 244 | 36 | ||||||||
| Career total | 541 | 123 | ||||||||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1952 | 5 | 2 |
| 1953 | 6 | 3 | |
| 1954 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1955 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1957 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1958 | 7 | 4 | |
| 1959 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1960 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1961 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1962 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 18 | |
- Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kopa goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 November 1952 | Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris, France | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Northern Ireland | flag alias = Ulster Banner.svg | flag alias-assembly = Flag of Northern Ireland Assembly.svg | flag alias-saltire = St Patrick's saltire.svg | flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–1 || rowspan="2"|Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 14 May 1953 | Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris, France | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Wales | flag alias = Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg | flag alias-1807 = Flag of Wales (1807–1953).svg | flag alias-1953 = Flag of Wales (1953–1959).svg | flag alias-1959 = Flag of Wales (1959).svg | size = | name = | variant = | altlink = national football team
}} || || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|6–1 || rowspan="2"|Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 20 September 1953 | Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Luxembourg | flag alias = Flag of Luxembourg.svg | flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Luxembourg.svg | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || align="center"|6–1 || 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 30 May 1954 | Stade Heysel, Brussels, Belgium | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Belgium | flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg | flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg | flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg | flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg | flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg | link alias-army = Belgian Land Component | flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg | link alias-naval = Belgian Navy | flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg | link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component | flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg | link alias-navy = Belgian Navy | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || align="center"|3–3 || Friendly | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | 19 June 1954 | Charmilles Stadium, Geneva, Switzerland | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Mexico | flag alias = Flag of Mexico.svg | flag alias-1821a = Flag of the Three Guarantees.svg | flag alias-1821 = Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg | flag alias-1823 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg | flag alias-1864 = Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg | flag alias-1867 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg | flag alias-1893 = Flag of Mexico (1893-1916).svg | flag alias-1916 = Flag of Mexico (1916–1934).svg | flag alias-1934 = Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg | flag alias-air force = Flag of the Mexican Air Force.svg | flag alias-army = Flag of the Mexican Army.svg | link alias-army = Mexican Army | link alias-air force = Mexican Air Force | link alias-naval = Mexican Navy | flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue.png | link alias-coast guard = Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue | flag alias-navy = Naval jack of Mexico.svg | link alias-navy = Mexican Navy | flag alias-marines = Estandarte Infantería de Marina de México.svg | link alias-marines = Mexican Naval Infantry Corps | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || align="center"|3–2 || 1954 FIFA World Cup | ||||||||
| 8 | 11 November 1954 | Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris, France | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Belgium | flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg | flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg | flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg | flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg | flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg | link alias-army = Belgian Land Component | flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg | link alias-naval = Belgian Navy | flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg | link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component | flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg | link alias-navy = Belgian Navy | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–2 || rowspan="2"|Friendly | |||||||||||||||
| 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 17 March 1955 | Estadio Chamartín, Madrid, Spain | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Spain | flag alias = Flag of Spain.svg | flag alias-1506 = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg | flag alias-1701 = Bandera de España 1701-1748.svg | flag alias-1748 = Bandera de España 1748-1785.svg | flag alias-1760 = Bandera de España 1760-1785.svg | flag alias-1785 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg | flag alias-1873 = Flag of the First Spanish Republic.svg | flag alias-1874 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg | flag alias-1931 = Flag of Spain (1931–1939).svg | flag alias-civil-1931 = Flag of the Second Spanish Republic (plain).svg | flag alias-1936 = Flag of the Bando Nacional (1936–1938).svg | flag alias-1938 = Flag of Spain (1938–1945).svg | flag alias-1945 = Flag of Spain (1945–1977).svg | flag alias-1977 = Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg | flag alias-civil = Flag of Spain (civil).svg | flag alias-civil-1785 = BandMercante1785.svg | flag alias-navy = Flag of Spain.svg | link alias-navy = Spanish Navy | flag alias-marines = Flag of Spain.svg | link alias-marines = Spanish Marine Infantry | flag alias-army = Flag of Spain.svg | link alias-army = Spanish Army | flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Spain.svg | link alias-naval = Spanish Navy | flag alias-air force = Flag of Spain.svg | link alias-air force = Spanish Air and Space Force | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant = 1945
}} || || align="center"|21 || Friendly | ||
| 11 | 15 May 1955 | Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris, France | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = England | flag alias = Flag of England.svg | flag alias-naval = English White Ensign 1620.svg | link alias-naval = Royal Navy | flag alias-navy = English White Ensign 1620.svg | link alias-navy = Royal Navy | link alias-cricket = England cricket team | empty = England Saxons | size = | name = | variant = | altlink = national football team | altvar = football
}} || || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 9 October 1955 | St. Jakob Stadium, Basel, Switzerland | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Switzerland | flag alias = Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg | flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg | link alias-army = Swiss Army | link alias-air force = Swiss Air Force | size = | size flag alias = 23x16px | sizebig flag alias = 25px | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | 23 October 1955 | Dinamo Stadium, Moscow, Soviet Union | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Soviet Union | flag alias = Flag of the Soviet Union.svg | flag alias-1922 = Flag of the Soviet Union (1922–1923).svg | flag alias-1923 = Flag of the Soviet Union (1924).svg | flag alias-1924 = Flag of the Soviet Union (1924–1936).svg | flag alias-1936 = Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg | flag alias-1955 = Flag of the Soviet Union.svg | flag alias-coast guard-1924 = USSR, Flag KGB 1924.svg | link alias-coast guard-1924 = Soviet Border Troops | flag alias-coast guard-1935 = USSR, Flag KGB 1935.svg | link alias-coast guard-1935 = Soviet Border Troops | flag alias-coast guard = USSR, Flag KGB 1950.svg | link alias-coast guard = Soviet Border Troops | flag alias-air force=Flag of the Soviet Air Force.svg | link alias-air force=Soviet Air Forces | flag alias-army = Flag of the Soviet Union.svg | link alias-army = Soviet Army | flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950–1991).svg | flag alias-naval-1924 = Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1923–1935).svg | flag alias-naval-1935 = Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union 1935.svg | flag alias-VV MVD naval = USSR, Naval flag of ships by the Interior Force 1983.svg | link alias-naval = Soviet Navy | flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950–1991).svg | link alias-navy = Soviet Navy | flag alias-marines= Flag of the Soviet Union.svg | link alias-marines= Soviet Naval Infantry | flag alias-military= Flag of the Soviet Union.svg | link alias-military= Soviet Armed Forces | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | altvar = football | variant =
}} || || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly |
| 14 | 8 June 1958 | Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Paraguay | flag alias = Flag of Paraguay.svg | flag alias-1812 = Flag of Paraguay (1812-1826).svg | flag alias-1826 = Flag of Paraguay (1826-1842).svg | flag alias-1842 = Flag of Paraguay (1842-1954).svg | flag alias-1954 = Flag of Paraguay (1954-1988).svg | flag alias-1988 = Flag of Paraguay (1988-1990).svg | flag alias-1990 = Flag of Paraguay (1990–2013).svg | link alias-naval = Paraguayan Navy | link alias-air force = Paraguayan Air Force | link alias-army = Paraguayan Army | link alias-navy = Paraguayan Navy | size = | name = | variant = | altlink = national football team
}} || || align="center"|7–3 || 1958 FIFA World Cup | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | 15 June 1958 | Eyravallen, Örebro, Sweden | {{ 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 =
}} || || align="center"|2–1 || 1958 FIFA World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | 26 June 1958 | Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = West Germany | flag alias = Flag of Germany.svg | flag alias-state = Flag of Germany (state).svg | flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Germany.svg | link alias-naval = German Navy | flag alias-air force =Flag of Germany (state).svg | link alias-air force = German Air Force | flag alias-army = Colour of Germany.svg | link alias-army = German Army | flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Germany.svg | link alias-navy = German Navy | border-naval = | border-navy = | link alias-football = Germany national football team | link alias-field hockey = Germany national field hockey team | link alias-tennis = Germany {{{mw}}} Cup team | link alias-basketball = Germany national basketball team | link alias-rugby union = Germany national rugby union team | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | altvar = football | variant =
}} || || align="center"|6–3 || 1958 FIFA World Cup | ||||||||||
| 17 | 1 October 1958 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Greece | flag alias = Flag of Greece.svg | flag alias-old = Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg | flag alias-1970 = Flag of Greece (1970-1975).svg | flag alias-royal = State flag of Greece (1863–1924;1935–73).svg | flag alias-otto = Naval Royal Standard of Greece (1858-1862).svg | flag alias-army = Hellenic Army War Flag.svg | link alias-army = Hellenic Army | border-army= | flag alias-air force=Fin Flash of Greece.svg | link alias-air force=Hellenic Air Force | flag alias-royalnavy = Naval Ensign of Kingdom of Greece.svg | link alias-naval = Hellenic Navy | flag alias-navy = Flag of Greece.svg | link alias-navy = Hellenic Navy | link alias-military = Hellenic Armed Forces | link alias-royalnavy = Royal Hellenic Navy | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant = old
}} || || align="center"|7–1 || UEFA Euro 1960 | ||||||||||||
| 18 | 27 March 1960 | Praterstadion, Vienna, Austria | {{ Template:Yesno | alias = Austria | flag alias = Flag of Austria.svg | flag alias-empire = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg | flag alias-state = Flag of Austria (state).svg | flag alias-1230 = Flag of Austria (1230–1934).svg | flag alias-war = Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg | flag alias-1934 = State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg | flag alias-1938 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg
|
flag alias-army = Flag of Austria (state).svg | flag alias-air force = Flag of Austria (state).svg | link alias-army = Austrian Land Forces | flag alias-naval = Flag of Austria (state).svg | link alias-naval = Austrian Navy | link alias-air force = Austrian Air Force | flag alias-navy = Flag of Austria (state).svg | link alias-navy = Austrian Navy | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =
}} || || align="center"|4–2 || UEFA Euro 1960 |
Honours
Reims
- Division 1: 1952–53, 1954–55, 1959–60, 1961–62Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Latin Cup: 1953Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Division 2: 1965–66Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 1956–57, 1957–58Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- European Cup: 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Latin Cup: 1957[17]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
France
- FIFA World Cup third place: 1958Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Individual
- Ballon d'Or: 1958; runner-up: 1959; third place: 1956, 1957Template:Efn
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1958Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Etoile d'Or: 1960[18]
- French Player of the Year: 1960Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- FIFA XI: 1963[19]
- World Soccer World XI: 1963[20]
- World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time[21]
- Golden Foot: 2006, as a football legend[22]
- UEFA President's Award: 2010[1][23]
- FIFA 100Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- 3rd French Player of the CenturyScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
Orders
Notes
References
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- ↑ The Greatest Offensive Midfielders of All-Time. xtratime.org
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- ↑ Template:NFT player
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- ↑ "ERIC BATTY’S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES" Retrieved on 26 November 2015
- ↑ World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time Retrieved on 28 November 2015
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External links
- Template:FFF player
- Template:UEFA player
- Template:First word/index.html Template:PAGENAMEBASE – FIFA competition record (archived)Template:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck
Script error: No such module "navboxes". Script error: No such module "national squad". Script error: No such module "national squad".Script error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:1958 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament Template:1963 World Soccer World XI Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:French Player of the Year Template:FIFA 100 Template:Golden Foot Legends Award Template:UEFA President's AwardScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Authority control
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1931 births
- 2017 deaths
- Footballers from Pas-de-Calais
- French men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Angers SCO players
- Stade de Reims players
- Real Madrid CF players
- Ligue 1 players
- Ligue 2 players
- La Liga players
- UEFA Champions League–winning players
- Ballon d'Or winners
- FIFA 100
- France men's international footballers
- 1954 FIFA World Cup players
- 1958 FIFA World Cup players
- French expatriate men's footballers
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- Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
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- Naturalized citizens of France
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