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:Grégory Coupet

{{Short description|French footballer (born 1972)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{lead too short|date=September 2010}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Grégory Coupet

| image = File:Lens - Dijon (15-08-2020) 22.jpg

| caption = Coupet with Dijon in 2020

| full_name = Grégory Coupet{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/388579.pdf |title=Booking List – 2005 |page=5 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=26 August 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|12|31|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: France |publisher=FIFA |page=11 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

| birth_place = Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, France

| height = 1.81 m{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur2614.html |title=Grégory Coupet |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=1 March 2025 |language=fr}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Bordeaux (goalkeeping coach)

| youthyears1 = 1977–1990

| youthclubs1 = Olympique Le Puy

| youthyears2 = 1990–1993

| youthclubs2 = Saint-Étienne

| years1 = 1993–1997

| clubs1 = Saint-Étienne

| caps1 = 88

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1997–2008

| clubs2 = Lyon

| caps2 = 370

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2008–2009

| clubs3 = Atlético Madrid

| caps3 = 6

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2009–2011

| clubs4 = Paris Saint-Germain

| caps4 = 31

| goals4 = 0

| totalcaps = 495

| totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2001–2008

| nationalteam1 = France

| nationalcaps1 = 34

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2016–2017

| managerclubs1 = Lyon B (goalkeeping coach)

| manageryears2 = 2018–2020

| managerclubs2 = Lyon (goalkeeping coach)

| manageryears3 = 2020–2022

| managerclubs3 = Dijon (goalkeeping coach)

| manageryears4 = 2022–

| managerclubs4 = Bordeaux (goalkeeping coach)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}{{MedalCountry|{{fb|FRA}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIFA Confederations Cup}}

{{Medal|W|2001|}}

{{Medal|W|2003|}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIFA World Cup}}

{{Medal|RU|2006|}}

}}

Grégory Coupet (born 31 December 1972) is a French former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Coupet is most well known for his lengthy career at Lyon where he won seven Ligue 1 titles. He also played for Saint-Étienne, Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the France national team.

Club career

Coupet was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire. He began his club career with hometown team Club Olympique Le Puy, before turning professional with Saint-Étienne in 1994. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 26 March 1994 in a 2–0 victory against Angers. After three seasons, he surprisingly moved to league rival Lyon (the two cities are only 80 kilometres apart, and are long-time local and national rivals) as a replacement for Pascal Olmeta in January 1997.{{cite web |website=skladyfutbol.pl |title=Olympique Lyon 1996-97 |url=http://skladyfutbol.pl/infopage.php?id=4342 |access-date=6 February 2015}} His gamble paid off as Lyon have regularly dominated Le Championnat since 2002 and were also regular fixtures in the UEFA Champions League.

Coupet performed a memorable double save against Barcelona during a 2001–02 UEFA Champions League match, when he first acrobatically headed an unintended lob by his team-mate Caçapa onto his own crossbar, and then immediately parried a close header by the arriving Barcelona striker Rivaldo.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/soccer/longterm/2001/uefa/champleague/firstphase/barcalyon.htm |title=Kluivert Class Earns Barca Win Over Lyon |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=10 October 2001 |access-date=28 April 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wldcup.com/news/2001Oct/20011010_10744_world_soccer.html |title=Champions League – FC Barcelona 2 Olympique Lyon 0 |publisher=Wldcup.com |access-date=28 April 2011}}

He openly wept during the group photo before France faced Turkey in a 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final match, which had taken place just hours after the shocking death of his close friend and former Lyon teammate Marc-Vivien Foé.{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/27/1056683905680.html |title=Cameroon player collapses, dies |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=28 June 2003 |access-date=28 April 2011}} Coupet credits the aftermath of Foé's death in helping him gain a new perspective on life, in the process settling his differences with Lyon after having been engaged in a contract dispute for most of the 2002–03 season, which included at one point his vowing never to play for the club again.[citation needed]

In 2005, Coupet was voted for the first time, at age 33, into the top 10 for the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper Award. He finished with 43 votes in fourth-place behind winner Petr Čech, Dida and Gianluigi Buffon respectively. He has also twice been named Ligue 1 Keeper of the Year, in 2004 and 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.iffhs.de/?d847e4a95e99a54384d85fe8f55005fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeecf8a3c1d |title=The World's best Goalkeeper 2005 |publisher=Iffhs.de |access-date=28 April 2011}}

On 2 August 2007, Coupet suffered a torn internal medial ligament in his left knee after catching his foot in the net during a training session. He underwent surgery four days later and missed the remainder of 2007, including France's final Euro 2008 qualifiers. He later joked on Lyon's official television network:

"The good side...is that [France] have a rugby World Cup coming and I’ll be able to enjoy every bit of it."{{cite web |url=http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2007/8/4/sports/18499286&sec=sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212163801/http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F8%2F4%2Fsports%2F18499286&sec=sports |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2009 |title=Coupet out for four months |work=Toronto Star .my |date=4 August 2007 |access-date=28 April 2011 }}

Coupet returned to the squad in the new year, making his return in Lyon's 4–0 victory over Ligue 2 side Créteil in the Coupe de France on 6 January 2008.[http://www6.sbs.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=103251 Coupet on track for comeback] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070813050106/http://www6.sbs.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=103251 |date=13 August 2007 }}

On 18 July 2008, Coupet was sold to Atlético Madrid for €1.5 million and an additional €250,000 bonus.{{cite news |url=http://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-13164-784-PR_080718.pdf? |title=SQUILLACI AND COUPET TRANSFERRED; CLEBER ANDERSON LOANED |date=18 July 2008 |access-date=9 February 2012 |publisher=OL Group}}

In 2009 Coupet joined Paris Saint-Germain where he finished his career before retiring in 2011. In the 2011 Coupe de France Final against Lille OSC he saved a penalty from Mathieu Debuchy, but was unable to prevent his side from losing 1–0.{{cite web |url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/05/15/obraniak-stunner-ends-lille%E2%80%99s-56-year-trophy-wait/ |title=Obraniak stunner ends Lille's 56-year trophy wait |date=15 May 2011 |publisher=pakistantoday.com.pk |access-date=21 February 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129151534/https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/05/15/obraniak-stunner-ends-lille%E2%80%99s-56-year-trophy-wait/ |url-status=dead }}

International career

Coupet has 34 caps with France. He made his international debut against Australia during France's 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup-winning campaign. He was called up for the 2002 World Cup as the backup to Fabien Barthez, but did not play. The following year, Coupet kept three clean sheets and conceded only three goals in five games as France won the 2003 Confederations Cup, which marked their second victory in the competition in three years. During a commemoration for the late Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, Coupet broke down in tears, since they both were teammates while playing for Lyon in the French league.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In February 2006, France Football magazine conducted a poll among its readers as to who should be France's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2006 World Cup; Coupet received 69 percent of the votes (Barthez received 28 percent).{{cite web |url=http://www.worldcuplatest.com/france-fans-vote-gregory-coupet-to-succeed-fabien-barthez-as-first-choice-goalkeeper-for-les-bleus.html |title=France Fans Vote Gregory Coupet |publisher=Worldcuplatest.com |access-date=28 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718113629/http://www.worldcuplatest.com/france-fans-vote-gregory-coupet-to-succeed-fabien-barthez-as-first-choice-goalkeeper-for-les-bleus.html |archive-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Though Coupet started six of ten games in the 2006 World Cup qualifying rounds, coach Raymond Domenech surprisingly elected Barthez as his number one, which would relegate Coupet to the bench once again. Many had expected Coupet to be chosen as the starter due to his excellent performances with Lyon that had contributed greatly to their streak of five Ligue 1 championships. This ultimately led to a row on 25 May 2006 between Coupet and Domenech that resulted in Coupet storming out of the team's training camp in Tignes with his family in tow, although he later returned and made amends with the coach.{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/may/25coupet.htm |title=Coupet storms out after Barthez dispute |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 April 2011}}

Coupet became France's number one after Barthez announced his retirement from both club and country football in August 2006. His first regular stint – during the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers – however, got off to a less-than-desired start; France were upset by Scotland 1–0 on 7 October and a hand injury suffered in that match kept him out of France's 5–0 victory over the Faroe Islands four days later.

He was first choice goalkeeper for the tournament proper stage of Euro 2008, conceding six goals in three matches as France were eliminated in the group stage.

During the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda were favored by Domenech for the goalkeeping job, with Coupet called up as a reserve for a few games. Coupet was not selected to France's final World Cup squad, as Cédric Carrasso instead was chosen to join Lloris and Mandanda on the roster.

On 1 July 2010, Coupet announced his retirement from international football, saying, "I will be 39 years old when Euro 2012 commences, and I can't see myself being included in another squad for France, with Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda favoured over me. It happened with Fabien Barthez, he was just too good for me. When he retired, I thought I'd have 4–6 years as France's number 1, but of course it isn't to be as it seems. I therefore declare my retirement from international football, and will not be included in any more France squads. I will not reconsider my retirement now, as I have made up my mind."

Coaching career

After retiring from professional football in 2011, he worked as a sports consultant for RMC radio as well as the CFoot and beIN Sport television channels. In July 2016, Coupet returned to Lyon as goalkeeper coach for the club's B-team.[https://www.football.fr/ligue-1/ol-coupet-a-signe-3-ans-306987.html OL: Coupet a signé 3 ans !], football.fr, 6 July 2016 In November 2017, Lyon confirmed that Coupet would continue as goalkeeping coach of Lyon's Ligue 1 team from the New Year.[https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/telefoot/news/olympique-lyonnais-joel-bats-s-va-gregory-coupet-remplace-4153141.html Olympique Lyonnais : Joël Bats s'en va, Grégory Coupet le remplace], tf1.fr, 13 November 2017 On 20 May 2020, Lyon confirmed that Coupet would leave the club at the end of the season, as his contract was expiring. It was further confirmed that Coupet would continue his career at Dijon FCO, also as goalkeeping coach.[https://www.leprogres.fr/sport/2020/05/20/gregory-coupet-s-engage-avec-dijon Grégory Coupet quitte l'OL et s'engage avec Dijon], leprogres.fr, 20 May 2020

On 17 January 2022, Coupet left Dijon and instead joined FC Girondins de Bordeaux, also as a goalkeeping coach.[https://www.girondins.com/fr/news/33515/gregory-coupet-nouvel-entraineur-des-gardiens-bordelais Grégory Coupet, nouvel entraîneur des gardiens bordelais], girondins.com, 17 January 2022

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite news |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/gregory-coupet/533/ |title=France – G. Coupet – Profile with news, career statistics and history |website=Soccerway |access-date=14 October 2016}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}{{NFT player}}

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, Copa del Rey}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="5"|Saint-Étienne

|1993–94

|rowspan="3"|Division 1

|4

00000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—40
1994–95

|26

02010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—290
1995–96

|36

04020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—420
1996–97

|Division 2

|22

02020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—260
colspan="2"|Total

!88

08050colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—1010
rowspan="13"|Lyon

|1996–97

|rowspan="6"|Division 1

|15

01020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—180
1997–98

|31

0601011{{efn|Seven appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup, four appearances in UEFA Cup}}0colspan="2"|—490
1998–99

|34

020108{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}0colspan="2"|—450
1999–2000

|34

070308{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Cup}}0colspan="2"|—520
2000–01

|32

0905014{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}0colspan="2"|—610
2001–02

|34

0402010{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Cup}}0colspan="2"|—500
2002–03

|rowspan="6"|Ligue 1

|35

040208{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Cup}}01{{efn|name=TDC|Appearance in Trophée des Champions}}0500
2003–04

|35

040009{{efn|name=UCL}}01{{efn|name=TDC}}0490
2004–05

|31

040008{{efn|name=UCL}}01{{efn|name=TDC}}0440
2005–06

|37

050009{{efn|name=UCL}}01{{efn|name=TDC}}0520
2006–07

|33

010007{{efn|name=UCL}}000410
2007–08

|19

080102{{efn|name=UCL}}01{{efn|name=TDC}}0310
colspan="2"|Total

!370

0550170940505410
Atlético Madrid

|2008–09

|La Liga

|6

030colspan="2"|—2{{efn|name=UCL}}0colspan="2"|—110
rowspan="3"|Paris Saint-Germain

|2009–10

|rowspan="2"|Ligue 1

|16

01010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—180
2010–11

|15

080301{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Europa League}}01{{efn|name=TDC}}0270
colspan="2"|Total

!31

090401010460
colspan="3"|Career total

!495

0750260970606990

{{notelist}}

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite news |url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=3903 |title=Grégory Coupet – national football team player |publisher=EU-Football.info |access-date=14 October 2016}}

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="8"|France

|2001

10
200220
200330
200440
200580
200650
200740
200870
colspan="2"|Total340

Honours

Lyon

Paris Saint-Germain

  • Coupe de France: 2009–10{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match-direct/coupe-de-france/2009-2010/monaco-psg-live/196890 |title=Résultat et résumé Monaco – Paris-SG, Coupe de France, Finale, Samedi 01 Mai 2010|work=L'Équipe|access-date=26 February 2021 }}

France

Individual

  • Toulon Tournament Best Goalkeeper: 1994{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toulon.html|title=Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon: Official Player Awards|publisher=rsssf.or|date=12 October 2022|accessdate=12 October 2022}}
  • Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06{{cite news |url=http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-football,236.html?lang=fr |title=Palmarès Trophées UNFP – Oscars du football – Meilleur gardien de Ligue 1 |publisher=Sportpalmares.eu |language=fr |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191914/http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-football,236.html?lang=fr |url-status=dead }}
  • Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06{{cite news |url=http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-football,239.html?lang=fr |title=Palmarès Trophées UNFP – Oscars du football – Equipe-type de Ligue 1 |publisher=Sportpalmares.eu |language=fr |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415115123/https://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-football,239.html?lang=fr |url-status=dead }}
  • ESM Team of the Year: 2006–07

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{FFF player}}
  • {{FIFA player}}

{{Navboxes

| title = France squads

| bg = #002395

| fg = white

| bordercolor = #ED2939

| list1 =

{{France squad 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup}}

{{France squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}

{{France squad 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup}}

{{France squad UEFA Euro 2004}}

{{France squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}

{{France squad UEFA Euro 2008}}

}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Awards

| titlestyle = background: gold

| list1 =

{{2002–03 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}

{{2003–04 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}

{{2004–05 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}

{{2005–06 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}

{{Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coupet, Gregory}}

Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Le Puy-en-Velay

Category:Footballers from Haute-Loire

Category:French men's footballers

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:AS Saint-Étienne players

Category:Atlético Madrid footballers

Category:Ligue 1 players

Category:La Liga players

Category:Olympique Lyonnais players

Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players

Category:France men's international footballers

Category:2001 FIFA Confederations Cup players

Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players

Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players

Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players

Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players

Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players

Category:FIFA Confederations Cup–winning players

Category:French expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain

Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Spain