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Former French footballer and coach Rolland Courbis, known for his outspoken media presence and leading Marseille to the 1999 UEFA Cup final, has died at 72. He was celebrated for his passion for the game and iconic voice in French sports media.

Louafi Larbi / Reuters

January 12, 2026

FILE PHOTO: Coach Rolland Courbis of Algeria's USM Alger gestures during the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) final soccer match against Kuwait's Al-Arabi in Algiers May 14, 2013.

Louafi Larbi / Reuters

PARIS – Former French footballer, coach, and outspoken media commentator Rolland Courbis has died at the age of 72, his employer announced on Monday.

Born in Marseille, Courbis dedicated his life to football, becoming one of the most recognizable voices in French sports media.

A former defender, he played for several clubs, including Olympique de Marseille, AC Ajaccio, Olympique Lyonnais, and AS Monaco, before transitioning into coaching.

As a coach, Courbis managed teams such as Bordeaux, Montpellier, Rennes, Ajaccio, and Marseille, leading the latter to the UEFA Cup final in 1999.

French radio station RMC confirmed his death but did not provide further details.

“His passion was expressed through his emblematic Marseille accent and a very direct connection with listeners — a freedom of expression that honored the supporters’ language while sharing their questions and emotions,” RMC said in tribute.

-Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Reuters