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Bernard Lama

Bernard Pascal Maurice Lama (born 7 April 1963) is a French former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. As a member of the France national team, he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000. Lama most notably played in the French Division 1 for Lille, Metz, Brest, Lens, Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes, and in the Premier League for West Ham United.

Bernard Lama
Lama in 2008
Personal information
Full name Bernard Pascal Maurice Lama[1]
Date of birth (1963-04-07) 7 April 1963 (age 61)[2]
Place of birth Saint-Symphorien [fr], France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper[4]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1989 Lille 103 (1)
1982–1983 → Abbeville (loan) 0 (0)
1983–1984 → Besançon (loan) 23 (0)
1989–1990 Metz 38 (0)
1990–1991 Brest 38 (0)
1991–1992 Lens 36 (1)
1992–1997 Paris Saint-Germain 177 (0)
1997–1998 West Ham United 12 (0)
1998–2000 Paris Saint-Germain 65 (0)
2000–2001 Rennes 32 (0)
Total 533 (2)
International career
1993–2000 France 44 (0)
Managerial career
2006 Kenya
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  France
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1998 France
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2000 Belgium–Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In 2006, Lama briefly coached the Kenya national team, his only professional managerial experience.

Early life

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Lama was born on 7 April 1963 in Saint-Symphorien [fr], Indre-et-Loire, a commune that merged into the neighboring Tours in 1964.[5]

Club career

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Early years

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Lama left Guiana in 1981 to come to metropolitan France, without his father's consent but determined to become a professional footballer,[6] where he was first signed by Division 1 club Lille. He was loaned to Abbeville in 1982, where he failed to make a single appearance, and he returned to Lille after just one year, only to be loaned again to Besançon. He did get some play time that year, and his performances were convincing enough for Lille to agree to keep him for the following season. From then on, Lama played regularly, and even scored a goal (a penalty kick during the 8–0 win over Laval on 31 May 1989),[7] but was never the indisputable number 1 keeper he aspired to be, and so he decided to leave. He spent one year in Metz, and then took part in Brest's last season in first division. Lama actually played every single league game during those two seasons. He then spent one year with Lens, where his performances attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, who offered him a five-year contract.[citation needed]

The golden years

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In Paris, Lama had to replace the iconic Joël Bats, and his impressive performances quickly showed he was up for the task. His career took a new dimension when he took part in European competitions, and even got called up for the France national team. He won the Coupe de France twice in 1993 and 1995, and in 1996, his most prestigious trophy yet, the European Cup Winners' Cup.[citation needed]

Downfall

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Despite an interest from La Liga giants Barcelona, Lama decided to stay in Paris, and had an excellent start of season that was cut short by a serious knee injury in September 1996 after he saved a penalty against Cannes,[6] having not conceded a single goal so far that season. Shortly after his return, he received a two-month ban for consumption of cannabis in February 1997.[8] This led PSG to look for a new goalkeeper, and Lama was notified during the summer 1997 (while he was still suspended) that Christophe Revault would be the starting goalkeeper for the following season, and that Lama was free to look for a new destination.[citation needed]

Lama found himself without a club at the start of the 1997–98 season, training with the PSG reserve team. During the winter transfer window and only six months away from the World Cup, he finally agreed on a short-term contract with Premier League club West Ham. Though signed on 21 December, he did not start in a match until 2 March against Arsenal, whereupon he kept a clean sheet.[9] He would finish the season with twelve league appearances in The Hammers' colours. He also played in the FA Cup against Arsenal in a tie that went to a penalty shootout after a replay, however Arsenal won the shootout to eliminate West Ham.[10] His performances were good enough to interest West Ham in making him a permanent signing, but they were unable to retain the player after the World Cup and he re-signed with Paris Saint-Germain.[citation needed]

End of career

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After six months spent in England, he made the most of the change of president in Paris (Charles Biétry replacing Michel Denisot) to return to the capital's club, where he spent two more seasons. Despite a more than decent 1999–00 season, he was notified that, due to Paris' youth policy, his services were no longer needed, and that Lionel Letizi would replace him as the club's first choice goalkeeper. He quickly found a new club, Rennes, where he spent a very good season, at the end of which he expressed his desire to fulfill his childhood's dream and play for a Brazilian club. Unfortunately for him, no club expressed any interest in signing him, which led to his announcing the end of his career.[citation needed]

International career

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Lama's debut with the France national team was on 17 February 1993 against Israel in a 4–0 victory, and he would go on to win 44 caps for his nation.[11] Lama played in the Euro 1996 finals, and was a substitute at the Euro 2000 finals. He also won the 1998 FIFA World Cup as a substitute of Fabien Barthez but did not play a single match.[citation needed]

Coaching career

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On 21 July 2006, Lama was appointed coach of the Kenya national team.[12] Kenya, however, lost on his debut to Eritrea on 2 September 2006, during an African Nations Cup qualifier, and he quit just two months later, citing the lack of professionalism of the Kenya Football Federation, and was replaced by Tom Olaba.[13]

Honours

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Paris Saint-Germain

France

Individual

Orders

References

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  1. ^ a b "Décret du 24 juillet 1998 portant nomination à titre exceptionnel" [Decree of 24 July 1998 appointing on an exceptional basis]. Official Journal of the French Republic (in French). 1998 (170). 25 July 1998. PREX9801916D. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Bernard Lama: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Bernard Lama: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Bernard Lama". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Bernard Lama". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Bernard Lama biography" (in French). Bernardlama.fr.
  7. ^ Bertrand Pelletier. "Bernard Lama stats on RC Lens". Sitercl.com.
  8. ^ Cannabis : deux mois de suspension ferme pour Lama (in French) Archived 1 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Arsenal drop points in championship chase". BBC. 2 March 1998. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Arsenal and Sheffield United through on penalties". BBC. 18 March 1998. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Bernard Lama en visite à Luchin" (in French). Losc.fr.
  12. ^ "Lama makes Kenya vow". BBC News. 28 July 2006.
  13. ^ Edwards, Piers (24 September 2006). "Olaba to coach Kenya in Angola". BBC News.
  14. ^ "PSG – Nantes 3-0, 12/06/93, Coupe de France 92-93". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  15. ^ "PSG – Strasbourg 1-0, 13/05/95, Coupe de France 94-95". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  16. ^ "PSG – Nantes 2-2 (6-5 tab), 03/01/96, Trophée des Champions 95-96". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
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