The current generation of football fans might not be familiar with the name Raymond Kopa, and that is exactly why this article is being written. The former French international was one of the greatest in football history, and deserves to be known by football fans of all generations across the world. He was an integral part of the French national side, and the legendary Real Madrid team of the 1950's. Kopa played as an attacking midfielder, who was blessed with pace, excellent dribbling skills, playmaking abilities, and scoring instincts. The Frenchman was also the very football player to receive the Légion d'honneur, which is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil.
Who is Raymond Kopa and what is his impact on football history?
Raymond Kopa, a French football legend, left an indelible mark on the sport. A key figure for Reims and Real Madrid in the 1950s, he was the first French player to win the European Cup. Kopa's legacy extends beyond his on-field brilliance, earning the Ballon d'Or in 1958 and inspiring the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player annually.
Let us now back to his legendary career.
Club career
After finishing second in the French national youth football trials in 1949, Kopa began his professional football career at age 17 with Angers in Ligue 2. Kopa eventually joined Reims 2 years later, with whom he won French championships in 1953 and 1955. This was followed by a Latin Cup victory in 1953, which saw Reims beat Italian giants Milan 3-0. The Frenchman also played a significant role in helping Reims reach the 1956 European Cup Final, but they ended up losing to the mighty Real Madrid 4-3.
Kopa's impressive performances caught the attention of Spanish clubs, and it resulted in the player joining Los Blancos during the 1956–57 season. The Frenchman played as an inside right during his time at Madrid, which was different from his usual no.10 position. He still managed to excel for the club and played a huge role in the legendary Real Madrid side that won three successive European cup victories and the Spanish league title in 1957 and 1958. This feat also meant that Kopa was the first ever French player to win the European Cup when Madrid became champions in 1957.
Individual and collective success followed for the player, as he won the 1958 Ballon d'or and also added 2 more European cups to his collection in 1958 and 1959. The latter coincidentally came against his former club Reims, as Madrid beat them 2-0 to become the champions of Europe.
The 1959–60 season saw Kopa returned to France to finish his career with Reims, where he ended up winning further Championnats in 1960 and 1962.
Across his club career, Kopa played over 500 matches, scoring more than 100 goals. Notably, his stint with Real Madrid saw him contribute significantly to three successive European Cup victories.
International career
Raymond Kopa had scored 18 goals in 45 matches for the French national team between 1952 and 1962. He was also an instrumental part of the French side in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, as his outstanding performances made him one of the best player's in the tournament. France were able to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, but were knocked out by a brilliant Brazil side. The French team finished third in the tournament.
Legacy
Raymond Kopa was such a special player that the legend Pelé even named him in his list of top 125 greatest living footballers. France Football also introduced the Kopa Trophy in 2018 in honour of him, which is awarded to to the best young football player in the calendar year. The first recipient of the award was also none other than Kylian Mbappe, who is arguably the best player in the world at the moment.
In a club career that spanned for over 18 years, Raymond Kopa ended up winning a total of 12 titles including 3 European Cups. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest in the game's history, and also especially for his 2 special clubs Real Madrid and Reims.
