French footballer (born 1963)
Bernard Pascal Maurice Lama
(born 7 April 1963) is a French former professional
footballer
who played as a
goalkeeper
. As a member of the
France national team
, he won the
1998 FIFA World Cup
and
UEFA Euro 2000
. Lama most notably played in the French
Division 1
for
Lille
,
Metz
,
Brest
,
Lens
,
Paris Saint-Germain
and
Rennes
, and in the
Premier League
for
West Ham United
.
In 2006, Lama briefly coached the
Kenya national team
, his only professional managerial experience.
Early life
[
edit
]
Lama was born on 7 April 1963 in
Saint-Symphorien
[
fr
]
,
Indre-et-Loire
, a
commune
that merged into the neighboring
Tours
in 1964.
[5]
Club career
[
edit
]
Early years
[
edit
]
Lama left
Guiana
in 1981 to come to metropolitan France, without his father's consent but determined to become a professional footballer,
[6]
where he was first signed by
Division 1
club
Lille
. He was loaned to
Abbeville
in 1982, where he failed to make a single appearance, and he returned to Lille after just one year, only to be loaned again to
Besancon
. He did get some play time that year, and his performances were convincing enough for Lille to agree to keep him for the following season. From then on, Lama played regularly, and even scored a goal (a
penalty kick
during the 8?0 win over
Laval
on 31 May 1989),
[7]
but was never the indisputable number 1 keeper he aspired to be, and so he decided to leave. He spent one year in
Metz
, and then took part in
Brest
's last season in first division. Lama actually played every single league game during those two seasons. He then spent one year with
Lens
, where his performances attracted the attention of
Paris Saint-Germain
, who offered him a five-year contract.
[
citation needed
]
The golden years
[
edit
]
In Paris, Lama had to replace the iconic
Joel Bats
, and his impressive performances quickly showed he was up for the task. His career took a new dimension when he took part in European competitions, and even got called up for the
France national team
. He won the
Coupe de France
twice in
1993
and
1995
, and in 1996, his most prestigious trophy yet, the
European Cup Winners' Cup
.
[
citation needed
]
Downfall
[
edit
]
Despite an interest from
La Liga
giants
Barcelona
, Lama decided to stay in Paris, and had an excellent start of season that was cut short by a serious knee injury in September 1996 after he saved a
penalty
against
Cannes
,
[6]
having not conceded a single goal so far that season. Shortly after his return, he received a two-month ban for consumption of
cannabis
in February 1997.
[8]
This led PSG to look for a new goalkeeper, and Lama was notified during the summer 1997 (while he was still suspended) that
Christophe Revault
would be the starting goalkeeper for the following season, and that Lama was free to look for a new destination.
[
citation needed
]
Lama found himself without a club at the start of the
1997?98
season, training with the PSG reserve team. During the winter transfer window and only six months away from the
World Cup
, he finally agreed on a short-term contract with
Premier League
club
West Ham
. Though signed on 21 December, he did not start in a match until 2 March against Arsenal, whereupon he kept a clean sheet.
[9]
He would finish the season with twelve league appearances in
The Hammers'
colours. He also played in the
FA Cup
against Arsenal in a tie that went to a penalty shootout after a replay, however Arsenal won the shootout to eliminate West Ham.
[10]
His performances were good enough to interest West Ham in making him a permanent signing, but they were unable to retain the player after the World Cup and he re-signed with Paris Saint-Germain.
[
citation needed
]
End of career
[
edit
]
After six months spent in England, he made the most of the change of president in Paris (
Charles Bietry
replacing
Michel Denisot
) to return to the capital's club, where he spent two more seasons. Despite a more than decent
1999?00
season, he was notified that, due to Paris' youth policy, his services were no longer needed, and that
Lionel Letizi
would replace him as the club's first choice goalkeeper. He quickly found a new club,
Rennes
, where he spent a very good season, at the end of which he expressed his desire to fulfill his childhood's dream and play for a Brazilian club. Unfortunately for him, no club expressed any interest in signing him, which led to his announcing the end of his career.
[
citation needed
]
International career
[
edit
]
Lama's debut with the
France national team
was on 17 February 1993 against
Israel
in a 4?0 victory, and he would go on to win 44 caps for his nation.
[11]
Lama played in the Euro 1996 finals, and was a substitute at the Euro 2000 finals. He also won the
1998 FIFA World Cup
as a substitute of
Fabien Barthez
but did not play a single match.
[
citation needed
]
Coaching career
[
edit
]
On 21 July 2006, Lama was appointed coach of the
Kenya national team
.
[12]
Kenya, however, lost on his debut to
Eritrea
on 2 September 2006, during an
African Nations Cup
qualifier, and he quit just two months later, citing the lack of professionalism of the
Kenya Football Federation
, and was replaced by Tom Olaba.
[13]
Honours
[
edit
]
Paris Saint-Germain
France
Individual
Orders
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]