Black History Month: Marius Trésor

By: Magnusson | February 13th, 2009

It has dawned on me a few nights ago (well I was actually told) that it was Black History Month (whatever *that* is) so I’ll try to profile a few of our more important black players from time to time.

Let’s start with one of our most symbolic alums, Marius Trésor. Marius is one of those players that were touted as the best ever since he was a youngster. The West Indian left his native Guadeloupe as a teenager to come and dominate in Ajaccio in the late sixties as a nineteen year-old (he was born in 1950). It took him all of six months to become the guy to watch. Quickly rising his profile at 20, Marius Trésor started in the French national Team in 1971, at the young age of 21 and never left it. He gained throughout his careers 64 caps, scoring five goals, which at the time was a record.

Most of his international career where he helped the team win a Coupe de France in 1976. He arrived at the Vélodrome in exchange for the young Rolland Courbis who was then headed to Ajaccio. He started at the left-back position in Marseille and the National team as Bernard Bosquier had seniority in both and was central defender. But BB was smart enough to understand quickly that he would lose his spot to the youngster if he didn’t move. Bosquier decided to become a midfielder, letting Marius Trésor for with Jean-Pierre Adams the legendary “Black Guard” (“La Garde Noire”) which stayed on for seven years and led France to the Euros in 1984.

In 1976, he became the first black captain of the National Team and led the Renaissance of the French Team that would go on the be eliminated by Germany in the semi finals of the 1982 World Cup in Spain (That game has been called one of the ten best matches in the history of the sport. 26 years later, it is still legendary. And still one of the rare occasions where Trésor scored). After that fateful match when France lost in the penalties to Germany after having led 3-1 in the first half of the extra-time, Beckenbauer said Trésor was the only other defender that intimidated him.

During his captaincy, France won the Euros and went to the semi finals of the World Cup, not bad. After an injury in the beginning of the 1979 season, Marseille lost their captain too and went to the Second Division. After stating he would want to be back, OM eventually sold him to Claude Baez’s Bordeaux for a huge transfer fee. At 30, which at the time was the moment of retirement for most players, he resurrected his and went on for a few more seasons.

As part of one of the FIFA 100, Marius Trésor is unanimously considered to be one of the best defensive players of all time and certainly will stay in the legend for both France and Marseille. He is at the moment part of the Girondins de Bordeaux staff.

As for Jean-Pierre Adams, after a botched anaesthesia during a knee operation in 1982, he entered a coma. He is still in the same coma, 27 years later, his wife by his side, living off of a settlement and donations from famous footballers including Tresor.