Former Senegal Coach Bruno Metsu Dies Of Cancer

 

Bruno Metsu, the UAE's 2007 Gulf Cup-winning coach, died on Tuesday following a battle with cancer. He was 59.

The Frenchman rose to fame when he led Senegal to a surprise 1-0 victory over his home country in the opening game of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

He was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after replacing Argentine coach Diego Maradona at Dubai's Al Wasl club in July 2012, but this was later said to have spread to his lungs and liver. He passed away at a clinic in his hometown of Coudekerque Village in Northern France.

He will be remembered as one of the greatest coaches in UAE football history, having won both the national team's first Gulf Cup in 2007 and the country's first Asian Champions League title with Al Ain in 2003.

He was a French footballer and later a coach.

Metsu's playing career was largely based in his native France, along with a spell in Belgium with Anderlecht. After retiring as a player, he took up the assistant manager post at his last club, Beauvais, and by 1988, he became full-time manager of the club.

He spent over a decade coaching in France before his first foray into international management

He was notable in Europe for coaching Senegal to a surprise victory over France in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.

While working in the Middle East, he converted from Christianity to Islam. He later named himself Abdullah Metsu.

Metsu took over African national side Guinea in 2000 before joining Senegal later that year.

He helped the side to a spot in the 2002 World Cup, their first ever appearance in the tournament, where they were expected to prop up a group containing France, Denmark and Uruguay.

Senegal pulled off a shock in the opening match of the tournament, however, beating defending World Cup and European champions France 1–0.

Metsu's side qualified from the group stage and beat Sweden in the round of 16, earning recognition as the first African side to reach the quarterfinals since Cameroon in 1990.