For Sunday’s OM-Lens match, Jean-Pierre Papin will make his return to the Vélodrome, this time as a manager, a first in his managerial career. It’s chance to take a look back on his exceptional career.
What do you make of OM’s start to the season?
Difficult. Delicate, even surprising. The side is doing so well in Europe, as they showed in Liverpool, with high-level performances that dwarf their efforts in the league. Just like Paris SG, who have had a tough season so far, OM, who I think have a huge team, will have to fight hard. This shows that the French league is in good shape; anyone can beat anyone else.
And your team’s start to the year? /strong>
Almost the same thing. Lens has had as hard a time as OM, but with less success in Europe. But we do have a match in hand and the win over Auxerre did us a lot of good, although it’s over yet. We’re working our fingers to the bone in training so we can pull ourselves out of this hole. We’ve been on a good track for a while, and I’m confident.
This OM-Lens match sees you return to the Vélodrome. It’ll be emotional for you…
I’m really happy to return to the Vélodrome. It’s my favourite stadium. I had some magical, unforgettable moments in Marseille; I was there for 6 years. But really my return isn’t important. It was the same thing when I returned with Bordeaux in 1996. Now what’s important is Lens and this match, which is worth a lot more than 3 points. I don’t need any more pressure. I’ll have a lot to deal with emotionally but I’ll put it aside to concentrate on the match.
Gaël Givet: “It’s really heart-warming because JPP got everyone jumping on the good old days of the 80s and 90s. It’s a pleasure to see him here again but we won’t be giving him any handouts.”Salim Arrache: “I didn’t get to know JPP at Strasbourg but we met a few times, as he was arriving and I was leaving for OM. It’ll be huge for him to return here to the Vél’ as a manager but we won’t be doing him any favours.
JPP vs. OM
1992-1993: OM-Milan AC (Champions League Final)
He signed for Silvio Berlusconi’s club with an eye to winning the Champions League, but ended up losing the final to his former club. During the match he came on in the second half but despite his efforts, he couldn’t find the net. He tried so hard in fact that at one point his foot made contact with the face of Fabien Barthez in the OM goal, causing quite an uproar. Things calmed down quickly but in the end it was OM who lifted the trophy that Marseille and all of France had waited so long for.
1996-1997: OM-Bordeaux (Round 9 of D1) and Bordeaux-OM (Round 27)
On September 28, 1996, Papin came back to the Vél’ as a Bordeaux player. The Olympiens, who had just returned to D1 after 2 years in the wilderness, held firm against the Bordelais. In the return leg, however, Rolland Courbis’ men derailed. Before the break, Bordeaux was 2-0 ahead and OM were down to 10 men after Xavier Gravelaine was sent off, which is why JPP made way for Toyes in the second half. The Bordelais went on to score another 2 goals, through Ba and Micoud.
1997-98: Bordeaux-OM (Round 9 of D1) and OM-Bordeaux (Round 25)
Despite some ambitious recruiting (Blanc, Domoraud, Bertin, Makelele…), OM once again lost in Bordeaux, which still counted JPP among its number; he in fact scored their second goal.
In the return leg, JPP made his second return to the Vél’. But, like the year before, despite his efforts, he didn’t score on one of his favourite pitches.
After the departure of Guy Roux at the end of August, Gervais Martel called on the services of JPP to manage the first team. On Sunday, for OM-Lens, JPP will make his Vélodrome debut as a manager.
Since the end of his playing career, JPP has played at the Vélodrome; first of all for his testimonial (May 30 1999), for that of his friend Pascal Olmeta (July 24 2000) and for a charity match between OM and France 98 (October 6 2003), when JPP represented the France 98 side.
He was also present, in the company of another great striker, Josip Skoblar, at the Vél’ in June 2003 for the launch of the new OM strip.
