Raymond Keruzoré Explained

Raymond Keruzoré
Birth Date:17 June 1949
Birth Place:Châteauneuf-du-Faou
(Kastell-Nevez-ar-Faou), Brittany, France
Height:1.73 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Stade Quimpérois
Years1:1969–1973
Clubs1:Rennes
Caps1:88
Goals1:6
Years2:1973–1974
Clubs2:Marseille
Caps2:25
Goals2:2
Years3:1974–1975
Clubs3:Rennes
Caps3:19
Goals3:0
Years4:1975–1979
Clubs4:Laval
Caps4:99
Goals4:14
Years5:1979–1981
Clubs5:Brest
Years6:1981–1984
Clubs6:Guingamp
Caps6:77
Goals6:5
Caps5:38
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:1976–1978
Nationalteam1:France
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:1981–1986
Managerclubs1:Guingamp
Manageryears2:1986–1987
Managerclubs2:Brest
Manageryears3:1987–1991
Managerclubs3:Rennes
Manageryears4:1992–1993
Managerclubs4:Tours
Manageryears5:1995–1997
Managerclubs5:Stade Quimpérois

Raymond Keruzoré (born 17 June 1949) is a French former football player and manager, regarded as one of the greatest players to have played for Rennes, as well as one of the greatest ever Breton players.

Club career

Keruzoré was born Châteauneuf-du-Faou, Finistère, Brittany. His professional football career began aged 20 on 26 June 1969, when he played his debut match in Division 1 for Rennes against Metz (3–0). In 1971, he won the Coupe de France with Rennes, beating Lyon 1–0. The following season, he played two matches in the European Cup-Winners Cup, eventually losing to Rangers (1–1 in Rennes, 1–0 in Glasgow).

He signed for Marseille in 1973, but only played one season, returning to Rennes the following year. For Marseille, he played four matches in the UEFA Cup, demolishing Union Luxembourg 13–1 on aggregate in the first round. In the second round the team played against Cologne, winning the first leg 2–0, but conceding six goals in the return match.

In 1975, he joined manager Michel Le Milinaire, a fellow Breton, at Stade Lavallois for one of the club's most successful periods, when it won promotion to the French first division. The club then turned fully professional and against expectations retained its top-flight status until long after his departure in 1979.

From 1979 to 1981 he played for Brest, another Brittany-based club to which he would later return as manager. During this time, the team won Division 2 and was promoted to Division 1.

From 1981 to 1986, he was player-manager of Guingamp, his third Breton club. During this time, the team enjoyed one of their most successful ever periods in Division 2 and in the French Cup. In season 82–83 Guingamp knocked Laval out of the cup (0–0, 0–0, then 4–2 on p.s.o.), before losing to Tours in the quarter-finals. The team was eventually a victim of its own success and the best players left for bigger clubs.

He spent one season as manager of Brest (1986–87) and during this time former manager of Lyon to be, Paul Le Guen, played under him. But a strained relationship with then-president François Yvinec meant he left after only one season, returning to Rennes as manager, his first professional club. Brest were relegated the following season.

As manager of Rennes from 1987 to 1992, 'Kéru' enjoyed mixed fortunes. The club finished 20th in 1992 and survived relegation only due to administrative problems of the top division clubs, Brest and Nice.

Raymond Keruzoré's career in football ended in 1997, after two seasons in Division 2 as manager of Stade Quimperois, the club where he began playing as a youth. The club was declared insolvent and he retired from management. He lives near Rennes in Brittany.

International career

Keruzoré earned eight caps with the France under-21 national team.

While playing for Laval, he won the first of two caps for the France national team in a world cup qualification match against Ireland on 17 November 1976. His second appearances was in a friendly match against Iran on 11 May 1978.[1] 'Kéru' was in contention for the French squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, but did not make the final squad. This, and his lack of international caps, are largely because he played the same midfield playmaker position as Michel Platini.

Honours

Rennes

Laval

Brest

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Raymond Keruzoré . Fédération Française de Football . 5 February 2021 . fr.