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| Raymond Kopa | |
|---|---|
| Name | Raymond Kopa |
| Fullname | Raymond Kopaszewski |
| Birth date | 13 October 1931 |
| Birth place | Nœux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais, France |
| Death date | 3 March 2017 |
| Death place | Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France |
| Height | 1.72 m |
| Position | Attacking midfielder, inside forward |
| Youthclubs | Nœux-les-Mines |
| Years1 | 1949–1951 |
| Clubs1 | Angers SCO |
| Years2 | 1951–1956 |
| Clubs2 | Stade de Reims |
| Years3 | 1956–1959 |
| Clubs3 | Real Madrid |
| Years4 | 1959–1967 |
| Clubs4 | Stade de Reims |
| Nationalyears | 1952–1962 |
| Nationalteam | France |
| Nationalcaps | 45 |
| Nationalgoals | 18 |
Raymond Kopa Raymond Kopaszewski (13 October 1931 – 3 March 2017), known professionally as Raymond Kopa, was a French footballer who achieved prominence as an attacking midfielder and inside forward for Stade de Reims and Real Madrid and as a leading player for the France national football team. Regarded as one of the finest European players of the 1950s and early 1960s, he won multiple domestic titles and the European Cup while receiving the Ballon d'Or. Kopa's technical skill and vision influenced generations across France, Spain, and wider Europe.
Born in Nœux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais, to Polish immigrant parents from the Second Polish Republic, Kopaszewski grew up in a mining community shaped by the legacy of the Industrial Revolution in France and the aftermath of World War II. He began playing youth football for local clubs in Nœux-les-Mines and developed in regional competitions of Hauts-de-France before signing for Angers SCO's senior setup. His early performances attracted attention from scouts linked to Stade de Reims and other leading French clubs, setting the stage for a move to top-flight competition in Ligue 1.
Kopa joined Stade de Reims in 1951, where under managers influenced by tactical developments from Hungary national football team and coaches like Helenio Herrera he became integral to a side that contested domestic championships and continental friendlies. With Reims he won multiple Ligue 1 titles and reached the inaugural European Cup final in 1956 against Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes. In 1956 Kopa transferred to Real Madrid, joining teammates such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Francisco Gento, and playing under president Santiago Bernabéu. At Madrid he won three consecutive European Cup trophies (1957, 1958, 1959) and captured La Liga crowns, appearing in finals against clubs like AC Milan and Manchester United. In 1959 he returned to Stade de Reims and helped the club remain competitive domestically against rivals including OGC Nice and AS Monaco FC through the 1960s before retiring from professional football in 1967.
Kopa made his debut for the France national football team in 1952, becoming a key figure in qualification campaigns and major tournaments. He starred for France at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, where alongside teammates such as Just Fontaine and Bertrand Banquet he helped France to a third-place finish, playing memorable matches against Brazil national football team and Yugoslavia national football team. Over a decade with the national side he earned 45 caps and scored 18 goals, participating in qualifiers for UEFA European Championship editions and friendly tournaments that included fixtures versus West Germany national football team and England national football team.
Kopa was renowned for close ball control, low center of gravity, creative passing, and spatial awareness that drew comparisons with contemporaries like Alfredo Di Stéfano and later influences such as Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini. Operating as an inside forward and attacking midfielder, he combined dribbling from tight spaces with incisive through-balls and set-piece delivery, contributing both goals and assists. His Ballon d'Or recognition placed him among laureates including Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, and Gerd Müller, cementing his status in continental lists and histories curated by institutions such as France Football. Kopa's cross-border success at Real Madrid also made him an early example of French talent succeeding in La Liga, inspiring future expatriates like Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema.
Born to a Polish family, Kopa retained cultural ties to Poland while becoming a public figure in France. Off the pitch he engaged with charity matches, public appearances, and football administration circles that intersected with figures from clubs like Stade de Reims and Real Madrid. He lived in Paris and later in the Pays de la Loire region, maintaining friendships with former teammates and managers from across Europe.
Kopa's honours include multiple Ligue 1 titles with Stade de Reims, several La Liga championships and three consecutive European Cup winners' medals with Real Madrid (1956–1959), a third place at the 1958 FIFA World Cup with France, and the 1958 Ballon d'Or. Individually he received recognition from France Football and was frequently included in historical selections and halls of fame alongside players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, and Justin F. M. Thibault.
Kopa died on 3 March 2017 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire. His passing prompted tributes from clubs including Stade de Reims, Real Madrid, and national institutions such as the French Football Federation, as well as commemorations in the French press and by former teammates like Just Fontaine and club presidents. Memorials and moments of silence were observed at matches across Ligue 1 and La Liga, and retrospectives were published by outlets and football historians documenting his impact on postwar European football.
Category:French footballers Category:Ballon d'Or winners Category:Real Madrid CF players Category:Stade de Reims players