Top facts about Jean-Pierre Papin, Papinades

Jean-Pierre Roger Guillaume Papin (born 5 November 1963) is a retired professional striker and football manager in France. In 1991, he won the Ballon d'Or and was awarded the IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year.

C'Chartres Football, a Championnat National 2 club, is managed by Papin.

Jean-Pierre Papin’s age

is 57. Here you can read the most important facts about Jean-Pierre Papin, the former legendary player.

Papin's most successful years were spent with Marseille throughout 1986 and 1992.

,

, Bordeaux, Guingamp, JS Saint-Pierroise, and US Cap-Ferret were among his latter clubs. Papin also made 54 appearances for France's national team.

He signed the local amateur team AS Facture-Biganos Boen as a player in 2009, aged 45, after a brief stint as a manager of French clubs. The first fact about Jean-Pierre Papin is that he was renowned for his goal-scoring, hitting skills, and volleys, which earned him the moniker Papinades.

He scored over 350 goals in over 620 appearances throughout a 17-year career in several of Europe's top divisions. Following the discovery of their eight-month-old daughter's serious cerebral lesions in 1996, Jean-Pierre and his wife founded the "Neuf de Coeur" (Nine of Hearts; Papin's shirt number was 9) organization to assist others in similar situations and, in particular, to discover and pertain techniques to mentally and physically instruct such children.

Top facts about Jean-Pierre Papin:

A notable

fact about Jean-Pierre Papin

is that he played for various teams as a junior and then as a semi-professional during the next several years, but it wasn't until he was 21 that he began his professional career, an ascension that would be as quick as his escape from clambering opposing defenders. He'd score for France at the World Cup two years later and win the Ballon d'Or five years later.

Jean-Pierre Papin early life

Papin was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer in 1963, the son of Guy Papin, a professional football player. Speaking about

Jean-Pierre Papin’s parents

, it should be mentioned that they decided to divorce. After his parents separated, he went to Germont, a French city on the Belgian border, to live with his grandmother.

Papin, 13, told his mother, "Whether you like it or not, I'm going to be a professional footballer." It's a childhood fantasy for all children who have grown up playing the game, but it was already a firm conviction for Papin.

Working hard in school to become a lawyer, which was his mother's dream for him, was as real as it got. She wasn't happy, particularly because his leg had been in plaster for the previous 14 months due to a severe automobile accident.

Regarding

Jean-Pierre Papin’s childhood

, it should be mentioned that he had been struck by a vehicle traveling at nearly 60 miles per hour, and he was fortunate to have just broken his leg. He recalls the event in an interview with L'Équipe, saying, "It was a real miracle, I wasn't supposed to play football again after that." His desire to be a successful football player was more evident than ever.

Jean-Pierre Papin personal life

Jean-Pierre Papin and his wife Florence Papin née Bouet are parents of five children, including Christopher, who would play as a junior at AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Girondins de Bordeaux and Emily, suffering from serious brain damage.

The couple created the Neuf de Cœur association in 1996 to inform parents about the methods of re-educating children suffering from such injuries.

Jean-Pierre Papin professional career

Jean-Pierre Papin began his French career in the year 1986 and played for the country till 1995 as a forward. During this tenure, he represented France 54 times and scored 30 goals. His goal scoring ability and skillset led the fans to nickname him 'papinades'.

Jean-Pierre Papin club career

An important fact about Jean-Pierre Papin is that he began his professional career at the age of 15 with Valenciennes in Northern France, before transferring to

in Belgium.

Papin had a fantastic first season at Club Brugge, netting 32 goals in 43 appearances. Despite the fact that he only spent one season with Club Brugge, his fans voted him the best foreign player of all time in 2008.

Marseille Olympique

During Papin's illustrious career with Marseille, the club won four consecutive French league titles (1989–1992), a league and cup double in 1989, and made the European Cup final in 1991, losing on penalties to Red Star Belgrade.

A notable fact about Jean-Pierre Papin is that he netted 181 goals in 279 games during this time and was the league's leading scorer for five straight seasons (from 1988 to 1992). He won the Ballon d'Or, Europe's best player, in 1991 while playing for

. He is the only player in the history of the award to have won it while performing for a French club.

AC Milan

An important

fact about Jean-Pierre Papin

is that he was the first high-profile France player to join the Italian league since Michel Platini in 1992, when he joined AC Milan for a world record price of £10 million. However, owing to injuries and adaption issues, he was never able to establish himself as a regular first-team player with the rossoneri.

Papin was forced to fight for playing time with other international players such as

,

, Frank Rijkaard, Dejan Savievi, Zvonimir Boban, Brian Laudrup, Florin Răducioiu, and Marcel Desailly as a foreign player during the Pre-Bosman rule period.

He came in as a substitute in the 1993 Champions League final, which Milan lost to Marseille, his old team. The next year, he won the Champions League, although he did not participate in the final. Papin, on the other hand, has fond recollections of his time in Italy and often refers to former Milan managers Fabio Capello and Arrigo Sacchi as coaching role models.

Bayern Munich

A notable fact about Jean-Pierre Papin is that he was sold to Bayern Munich for £2.1 million in 1994, but his debut season was marred by injury once again. He was a member of the team that won the UEFA Cup against Girondins de Bordeaux in his second season in Germany, a club that Papin would join the following season.

Bordeaux

A notable

fact about Jean-Pierre Papin

is that he lost the 1997 Coupe de la Ligue final with Bordeaux against Strasbourg. Papin's professional career came to an end in 1998 with EA Guingamp in the Second Division.

Later in his professional career, he was connected with two English teams. In March 1994, he was a recruitment target for

of the Premier League.

He was a target for aggressive Fulham, then a Division Two (third tier) team, towards the conclusion of his time with Bordeaux in 1998, and even voiced his wish to join for the club. Neither move, however, occurred, and Papin ended his career without ever having visited England.

Papin ended his playing career between 2001 and 2004 as a member of the amateur club US Cap-Ferret. After five years as a manager, he moved on to play for another amateur team, AS Facture-Biganos Boen.

Jean-Pierre Papin international career

An important

fact about Jean-Pierre Papin

is that he scored 30 goals in 54 games for France. Papin won his maiden cap against Northern Ireland in a friendly match in February 1986 and went on to play in the 1986 World Cup.

He scored twice in four games, the first against Canada (1–0) and the second against Belgium (4–2), to help France finish third.

Papin's nine-year international career saw him score an amazing amount of goals, although his record for France is uneven. Between the Platini period of the 1980s and the 1998 world champions, Papin was part of the "curssed generation" of French players that included

, Thuram, and Henry.

Despite having several excellent players, France failed to qualify for the 1988 European Championship as well as the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, the latter following two humiliating losses on home soil against Israel and

.

A notable fact about Jean-Pierre Papin is that he scored nine goals in the qualification phase to help the French team qualify for Euro 1992 in Sweden. Despite Papin's two goals, France finished last in the final tournament and did not advance beyond the group round. In 1995, he played his last game for the national team.

Jean-Pierre Papin style of play

Papin has been characterized as "a quick and deadly striker who made goal scoring his trademark for club and country" and as a player who could score "from slick, chipped finishes, low drives into the corner, towering headers, and, in especially, thunderous volleys." Papinade was a word used throughout his career to denote powerful volleys from challenging angles.

Jean-Pierre Papin coaching career

Papin succeeded Jacky Duguépéroux as coach of RC Strasbourg, who had been demoted to the Second Division, in May 2006. He formerly coached FC Bassin d'Arcachon, an amateur club, and was instrumental in their promotion from CFA 2 to CFA.

With a third-place result in 2006–07, he returned Strasbourg to Ligue 1, but came under fire soon after the season ended when internal disputes at the club were revealed in the public. Several players, notably Jean-Christophe Devaux, the 2005 league cup final hero, have publicly questioned Papin's tactics.

He was initially appointed as manager for the 2007–08 season, but had to quit a week later when it was discovered that he had interviewed for the empty managerial position at RC Lens only hours after his confirmation at Strasbourg. Jean-Marc Furlan, the previous manager of ES Troyes AC, took his position, while Lens chose Guy Roux as their new manager.

After the club's defeat against Strasbourg, Papin was named manager of Lens, and Roux resigned after just five games of the 2007–08 season. Lens and Papin were battling to escape relegation to the Second Division in the middle of the season.

Lens was also knocked out of the UEFA Cup and the Coupe de France in the first round by FC Copenhagen (1–1; 1–2) and Chamois Niortais (0–1, at home), respectively.

Châteauroux appointed the coach to replace Dominique Bijotat on December 29, 2009. In May 2010, he resigned and was succeeded by Didier Tholot.

Papin took over as manager of FC Bassin d'Archachon in the Championnat de France Amateur 2 for the 2014–15 season. Papin was named the next manager of Championnat National 2 club C'Chartres Football on June 2, 2020.

Jean-Pierre Papin outside football

Papin's caricature in the satirical TV puppet program Les Guignols de l'Info made him famous in French pop culture. Papin was first portrayed as a somewhat bumbling footballer (a typical stereotype in France), his only interest being the many methods to score goals.

When Papin had problems in Italy, the media grew more sympathetic, particularly with the release of the notorious Reviens JPP! song, in which even God Himself urged Papin to return to his homeland, saying, "France needs you!"

Papin founded the Neuf de coeur (Nine of Hearts) charity after his daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby. The organization offers assistance to families afflicted by the neurological disease.

Jean-Pierre Papin legacy

Jean-Pierre Papin is up there with Platini and Zidane as one of the best French players of all time, with more than 300 goals in 500 appearances for club and country, six league championships, a Champions League winner's medal, and a Ballon d'Or. Papin's currency, however, was objectives, unlike the great innovators.

Papin was persuaded by performance-related compensation and believed in the "project" Tapie mentioned. As a consequence, Papin was sporting Marseille's iconic white and sky blue by late summer of 1986. The next six years saw Ligue 1 post the most impressive goal totals: 16, 23, 33, 38, 36, 38. Indeed, the Frenchman established himself as one of Europe's most deadly marksmen over those last four years.

Papin came under greater scrutiny in Marseille as a young player coming from a lower league, regardless of his achievements in Mexico. Critics were quick to dismiss him, but he characterizes his first year as "one of adaptation," with remarkable results for both the player and the team. He may not have been given the time he required to succeed in the contemporary game.

Papin was their leading striker for five seasons in a row, and although his characteristics – tiny, fast, and deadly – made him ideal for poaching, he was much more. He scored from all angles, and he was especially excellent at exposing the last defender with his speed and merciless finishing. He also had an amazing talent for burying stunning volleys, which became known as La Papinade.

The phrase was created during his tenure in Marseille to describe his intuitive reaction to a ball in the air. If you've never seen one of his volleys, it's the one you tried in the park when you were a kid: half scissor-kick, part volley. Papin would often respond first to slam them in, while the rest of us shanked them or missed them entirely. It had become a kind of brand.

Was this spontaneity the product of hours of hard practice or just a talent for finding the back of the net? "I had a knack for scoring, but without the effort, it would've counted for nothing," Papin says in an interview with Lavoixdunord.

"When I found myself in front of goal, there was never in question, that's what I was doing every day in training hundreds of times," he says on SoFoot, with the swagger necessary for great goal scorers. "It just seemed right."

The sort of confidence and self-assurance that distinguishes great strikers from mediocre strikers is the sensation of goals becoming second nature. Papin's training was undoubtedly essential, but his mindset aided him in becoming the full package, which earned him the Ballon d'Or in 1991.

Papin had 36 goals and led Marseille to the Champions League final that season, so his win wasn't surprising - but dedicating it to reserve goalkeeper Alain Casanova was, "I remained late after training to perfect my ranges, and Alain agreed to go in goal every day for three years." He was my personal trainer as well as our backup goalkeeper. But most importantly, he was a friend.”

His ability to recognize the contributions of others to his game undoubtedly contributed to his success as a club and national captain. Recognizing that his form increased year after year as the Marseille squad became stronger, he maintained a team-centric attitude regardless of the amount of goals he scored or the selfish nature of his position on the field.

Even the best strikers owe a debt of gratitude to those who provide the service, and in another interview with SoFoot, he explains that Chris Waddle was perhaps the player with whom he most enjoyed playing: “We loved to play together... he understood me the most, our connection started as soon as he arrived, no one could speak English, and he stayed with me for a couple of months. "On the field, the emotion was palpable."

The purist will appreciate seeing vintage video of their link on the field; Waddle's gliding elegance, mullet blowing in the breeze, dribbling his way forward, and delivering the eventual exquisite ball to Papin, for the fast and merciless number 9 to power home.

Papin's peak came during his six seasons with Marseille, while the rest of his career was a mixed bag. He went on to win the Champions League and two Scudetti with AC Milan, as well as the UEFA Cup with Bayern Munich, but injuries and squad selection prevented him from reaching his full potential with either club.

Papin did, however, provide hints about Milan. Papin came with high hopes, with a world-record price of £10 million proving that Milan was serious about pairing him with Marco van Basten in attack – a terrifying possibility for any defense at the time.

He scored 13 goals in 22 Serie A appearances in his debut season, the same amount as Van Basten, although playing seven more games. He only scored five league goals in 18 appearances the following season, but those figures don't tell the full picture.

Manager Fabio Capello had made it clear that Milan was not a team built for a swashbuckling poacher that season. That season, the Rossoneri won the league with only 36 goals in 34 games, with Daniele Massaro scoring 11 times. With five goals, Papin was the second-highest goal scorer. Massaro came in 14th place in the Capocannoniere race, which is incredible.

“If Capello's system seems dull from the stands, it's much worse to play in,” Papin subsequently commented on his time under Capello. Papin's choice to leave Milan was simple due to the team's defensive attitude.

His significant decrease in transfer price reflects both his lack of form and stature. He signed for Bayern Munich for £2 million. His worth continued to decline in the next two seasons in Bavaria, as he was plagued by injury and only scored six goals in total, departing Germany as one of the club's most disappointing acquisitions.

Papin's career was marred by bad timing in the later stages, although nothing compared to the impact it had on his international career. Unfortunately, Papin's career was cut short by the "cursed generation" of French football, which lasted from 1984 to 1998.

It was a tumultuous and poisonous era in French football, with the country failing to qualify for Euro 88 and two World Cups, in 1990 and 1994 - all during Papin's prime.

Papin scored 23 goals in the season leading up to Euro 88, and 38 goals in the two seasons leading up to the 1990 Global Cup, showing he deserved to be on the world stage. His personal performances for his nation were unaffected by this, as he scored twice in three games at Euro 92 in Sweden.

His total goal ratio for Les Bleus was even more impressive: he scored 30 goals in 54 games, which is much better than both

and

.

That World Cup experience, playing and scoring at the age of 23, was ideal preparation for future events; it's just a pity he never had another opportunity. Papin rightly reflects on the lost qualifying games given the hopelessness of the scenario. When asked which game he'd want to play again, Papin simply says, "France-Bulgaria." It's pointless to explain why."

With 184 goals, five top-scorer honors, four Ligue 1 championships, a Coupe de France, and a Champions League final during his six years at Marseille, Jean-Pierre Papin's reputation was cemented.

The season he eventually departed and faced them in the European Cup final as an AC Milan player, his kinship with Marseille was apparent. He sat on the bench for the most of the game and was unable to make an effect when he did come on.

What was most revealing was his response as the game's final whistle blew. As a joyful Marseille bench rushed onto the field, an emotional Bernard Tapie approached Papin and hugged him with a huge happy grin. He's subsequently said that he had completely forgotten he was playing against an opponent at the time, and was just delighted for his former club and friends. It's a testament to his skill at the Vélodrome.

Some quick facts about Jean-Pierre Papin:

Jean-Pierre Papin’s first professional contract was with Valenciennes of Ligue 2, where he played for one season and scored 16 goals in 35 appearances. Papin scored 11 goals in the 12 games that Belgian scouts saw, which was enough to earn a transfer to the top division with Bruges.

The contract arrived in the mail within a couple of days. The 32 goals he scored in 43 appearances the next season in Belgium were enough to irreversibly alter things, and Papin's goal machine was in full swing.

He was then unexpectedly called up to France's World Cup team for Mexico 86. He had played for the under-23s, but it was still a surprising and divisive choice in France; a little-known Belgian youngster given such an opportunity surprised many.

Papin's confidence was rewarded, as he scored twice in three games, the second of which came in the playoff versus Belgium to finish third overall. He got the opportunity to play alongside French football legends such as Michel Platini and Jean Tigana, and he gained important insight into what was required to get to the next level.

The following stage of his career cemented his reputation as a goal-scoring machine. After the World Cup, his only goal was to return to his own country, and he signed a pre-contract deal with Monaco to do so. After the first agreements with its Mediterranean neighbors, however, controversial Marseille chairman Bernard Tapie was able to recruit him.

Jean-Pierre Papin social media

Regarding

Jean-Pierre Papin social media

, it should be mentioned that he has a Twitter account (

) with 114k followers. In his page we can see various posts about different subjects, mainly football.

Jean-Pierre Papin body measurements

Speaking about

Jean-Pierre Papin body measurements

, it should be mentioned that the former star is 177 cm and 70 kg.

Jean-Pierre Papin net worth and salary

Jean-Pierre Papin’ net worth

is believed to be between $4 million and $5 million dollars. From his main profession as a soccer player, he has amassed a substantial fortune. He also continued making money from football by coaching different teams.

Papin went from Marseille to AC Milan in July 1992 for a world-record £10.8 million transfer price, making him the first player ever to be purchased for ten million or more.

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