Flashback: Bernard Lama

Who were they, what happened to them. Discover Bernard Lama’s story in the first episode of our “Flashback” column, following the steps of former Stade Rennais players.

A World Champion in Rennes

M. Pinault Dreamed about it, M.Pinault did it! It was no secret; Stade Rennais’ main shareholder had the dream of signing one of the players who lifted the world cup in 1998. Following the success of the French Squad in the European Cup 2000, Rennes’ board announces the signature of Lama for one season.

Aged 38, the former Paris Saint-Germain Goalkeeper wasn’t coming in anticipated retirement but with the goal of helping his former teammate Paul Le Guen in pushing Rennes among the hard cores of French football. Financial support is made available to the coach since the club is very aggressive on the transfer market with the arrivals of Delaye, Fabiano, Lucas, Vander and so on.

More than a player, an example.

With such an exotic and impressive recruitment that summer, expectations are high around the Briton club. Rennes’ managers are thus obliged to come clean about the objectives and announce the ambition for the end of the season: Earning a spot in the European competitions.

Unavailable for the first match of the season in Lyon (2-2), Lama experiences his very first start in Rennes against Paris Saint-Germain. “As a symbol”, some may say, but the international is not overwhelmed by these circumstances. The “Red and Blacks” score first around the 30th minute of the game thanks to Cyril Chapuis. Lama then saves his team in front of Anelka, but finds himself completely powerless against a curling shot by Stéphane Dalmat in the last fifteen minutes of the game. The beginning of the season is made of mixed feelings as Paul Le Guen’s men are able of the best as well as the worst. However, the defense seems to be the weakest link as the Britons finish with a clean sheet only four times during this first half of the season.

A general result that let Lama unsatisfied, he doesn’t hesitate anymore to give instructions to his teammate even in the middle of a match against Metz (0-1, 7th day). That evening, Rennes’ defense is about to collapse under the pressure of Metz armada and the former goalkeeper of “Les Bleus” delays a clearance shot for a minute or two just to go and see Réveillère in order to give him some piece of advice about his positioning. In the audience, jaws are dropped. The man is like that, thoroughgoing and full of the respect he earned since the very beginnings of his long professional career.

Stade Rennais, however, shines with inconsistency. Able of a convincing win in Marseille (0-1, 14th day) and taken by surprise at home against the last team in the table, Toulouse (1-1, 15th day). Following a series of unsatisfying results, Le Guen is logically threatened of a sack before a game in the Parc des Princes in Paris. This night, Lama is one of the saviors of his coach by being absolutely outstanding in the arena of his past exploits. Thanks to him, and him only, the short advance of a goal by Chapuis in the first half is preserved until the final whistle. Like rid of a burden, Rennes surfs on this wave of success and stays undefeated for the next five games.

Just before the winter pause, the Rennesters welcome the surprisingly strong team of Sedan. The “Ardennes” guys are dangerous but Lama pulls an exceptional aerial stop frustrating Diao of a goal. Before the half-time, Gourvennec takes advantage of the opposite team’s passivity and beats Sachy with an enraged tackle. In the second half, Severino Lucas scores a tremendous goal by adjusting Sachy with a right foot insider which gives a significant advance to Rennes. Nonetheless, Rennes eventually falls back into inconsistency. And this lack of steadiness in the results generates a few tense events inside the club.

Clash with the executive board

A proverb claim that love stories always end in tears… Well, between Lama and the club the relationship comes to an end and the divorce is pronounced before a match at home against Bordeaux (1-2, 32nd day).
During the week before the game, the former international keeper gives an interview to the sport newspaper L’Equipe in which he points out the “constant suspicious climate that reigns inside the club”. The words are harsh and underline some severe mishaps at the head of the club, including a questioning of the future of Paul Le Guen as coach of the team.

Indeed, not only is Paul Le Guen on the brink of a move but Christian Gourcuff’s arrival is more or less programmed. René Ruello, president of the club at that time, is pressed to clear the air. Which he does through the newspapers: “The recent declarations in the media of Mr. Lama make it impossible for the club and him to work together again”.

One can therefore imagine than the adventure of Lama and Rennes is over and that the loss in Toulouse (2-0, 31st day) was his last match. Minutes before the game against Bordeaux, the air is electric, and the players are warming up without the emblematic goalkeeper. Suddenly, the former international enters on the field of the Route de Lorient Stadium carried by a strong Standing Ovation from an audience that had chosen his side. During the game, Lama shows some weakness on a few balls and is a bit guilty on Pauleta’s second goal of the night, following a free-kick at a distance of 30 yards.

But it doesn’t matter, Stade Rennais finally ends the season in a free-wheeling spirit, losing to Lyon at home (3-4, 34th day). This would be the very last time Bernard Lama plays for Rennes and enters a League 1 field as a player.

This is the End

Despite being a free agent and willing to join the Brazilian championship, Bernard Lama cannot find himself a new challenge. The career of one of the very best goalkeepers to ever wear the shirt of the French national squad ends there, after a flash season in Rennes. A quite bitter and sour ending for such a player, but his short passage in the club has inspired a whole generation of teammates who benefited from his great experience and professional attitude.

In june 2006, he became the head coach of the Kenyan national team but left two months later because of internal disagreements in the team’s environment. Devoted and responsible, Lama created afterwards the Djambars Association whose aim is to help young desperate Africans worldwide. A project which concentrates all his commitment as he lately expressed between the lines.

“We created this structure that allows us to bring youngsters to an individual development, to be a little bit more blossomed. We want to help them become good citizens”. Giving back what you were instructed, a mark of the greatest.