Five Star Midfielder

French midfielder Jean Tigana (R) tries to kick the ball away from a Portuguese forward during the Euro-84 semifinal soccer match between France and Portugal 23 June 1984 in Marseille. France qualified for the final with a 3-2 victory in extra time. AFP PHOTO

Jean Tigana was a vital cog in the high-octane French machine that raced across the football landscape in the mid-1980s, winning a European Championship in 1984 and coming within a whisker of World Cup glory.

Tigana's place was in the superb midfield alongside Michel Platini, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez, whose individual talents blended perfectly.

He has also coached at the highest level in England and France.

Tigana grew up in the suburbs of the Mediterranean port of Marseille after arriving from his native Mali. When he left school he worked in a spaghetti factory and also as a postman to supplement his earnings from football.

His career looked to be going nowhere with his first club Toulon when he was spotted by Lyon coach Aime Jacquet, the man who later went on to guide another generation of great French footballers to the 1998 World Cup.

Good nose

Former AS Monaco soccer coach Jean Tigana smiles as he poses among his vineyards 15 October 1998 in Listrac, According to the Sud-Ouest daily, Tigana has decided to sell his 24-hectare property, bought in 1987, to another wine grower of the Listrac-Medoc trademark, Alain Meyre,who owns the castle Cap-Léon-Veyrin.

Alongside Giresse, Patrick Battiston and Bernard Lacombe, Tigana helped Bordeaux to the French Championship in 1984, 1985 and 1987 as well as two French Cups in the same period.

Tigana's subtlety on the pitch was reflected in his interest for the great wines of the Bordeaux region and he acquired a vineyard, Chateau Bibian, during his stay in the Gironde.

The Frenchman will perhaps best be remembered for an inspired shimmy through the Portuguese defence in extra time that led to Michel Platini's winner in the 1984 European Championship semi-final.

Roots

In 1989 he went back to his roots, signing for Marseille and helping them win two French championships.

After retiring at 36 he went straight into coaching, starting at Lyon.

His determination and dedication, not to mention his experience and ability later helped Monaco to the French Championship and the semi-final of the European Champions League in 1998.

Monaco soccer coach Jean Tigana (R) stands next to forward David Trézéguet as he gives instructions to his players, 14 September 1998 at Lodz stadium, on the eve of the UEFA Cup match between Lodz and Monaco. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK HERTZOG

He can also be credited for launching the careers of current stars Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

Fulham's French soccer club manager Jean Tigana (L) celebrates with Harrod's owner and club chairman Mohammed al Fayed 04 October 2000 at the launch of Domaine La Dona Tigana. Tigana and his family have spent 15 years establishing the dry white wine in Cassis Provence, and it is now available at the famous Harrod's wine department. Tigana has recently taken Fulham to nine victories out of nine in the English first division.

He moved to London side Fulham in 1988, where he put the substantial financial backing of club owner Mohammad Al Fayed to use and cut an unmistakable figure roaming the sidelines with a trademark tootpick tucked between his teeth.

After guiding the club into the top flight for the first time since 1967-68, Fulham held their own, playing the kind of smooth, attractive football Tigana himself was so proud of in his playing days.

However Fayed ran out of patience after some heavy investment failed to bring instant success and Tigana was fired in April, 2003.