WHAT A GREAT GUY

TOM GREEN LOOKS BACK AT THE INCREDIBLE REIGN OF GUY ROUX AT AUXERRE...

- TOM GREEN

EARLY YEARS 

Guy Marcel Roux was born in the French city of Colmar on October 18, 1938. Colmar is 165km south-east of Paris and just 10km west of the River Rhine. After the capture of his father, the family fled to a safer city, Appoigny. It was there where his long-standing love affair with Auxerre would take root.

Auxerre had been founded in 1905 but had fallen behind in French football following the decision to take the sport down the professional route in 1930. AJA found themselves in the regional Burgundy League when a 16-year-old Roux debuted as a player.

Like many of us who had a dream, Roux quickly realised his talent may see him fall short of the required level to make a successful career as a player and so decided that coaching would be his path.

TAKING THE AUXERRE REINS

Following the departure of Christian Di Orio in 1961, a 22-year-old Roux persuaded the Auxerre hierarchy he was the man for the job. With little to no coaching experience, the youngster managed to convince the board he was the right man to take them forward as he outlined his vision for the future and offered to work for next to nothing!

After just one season in charge, the novice manager was called for his National Service before being able to re-take the reins for the 1964-65 season. He went on to make the manager's office his own for the next 36 years.

His first taste of success came during the 1969-70 season, the year that would be his last as a player.

He led his charges to the Ligue de Bourgogne de football and promotion to the French Third Division.

It took the club and their young manager just four more years to secure their place in the French Second Division and entry into the professional ranks of the country's football pyramid, with a squad that included future Auxerre manager Daniel Rolland.

THE SECOND DECADE-1974-84