Former Marseille player and coach, a charismatic figure in French football, Roland Kurbis, has died at the age of 72, it was announced today.
RMC radio, where Kurbis worked as a commentator, did not announce the cause of death in a statement issued in agreement with the deceased's family.
Born in Marseille, Kurbis came through Olympique's football academy, and as a strong defender, he won the double crown in 1972.
He returned to the club as a coach in the late 1990s.
He also played for Monaco, with whom he won two French championship titles and a Cup, but also for Olympiacos and Sochaux.
"He carried the club in his heart, he was the embodiment of popular, dynamic football. His unmistakable accent carried his open, direct, often passionate and always sincere words," Olympique Marseille said in a statement.
As a coach, he led numerous French clubs, including Bordeaux, Lens, Montpellier, the Algerian club USM, and was also the coach of Niger.
Among the many highlights of his career is a 5-4 win against Montpellier in 1998, after his team was trailing 0-4.
He loved gambling in the casino, lived for a time with an Italian countess, and led a turbulent life.
He was seriously wounded when gunmen killed the club's president outside the stadium, and in separate cases he was involved in court proceedings and sentenced to prison.
French national team coach Didier Deschamps said that with Kurbis's death, French football has lost an excellent football expert.
"He was a truly passionate person, and in recent years he decided to convey that passion behind the microphone, with a special style," Deschamps said.
Bonus video:
