“Farewell Henri Stambouli”. It is with these words that Unecatef (the National Union of Professional Football Coaches and Technical Executives) begins its press release in order to confirm the death of this former player, coach and trainer. A native of Oran, he was 62 years old. “How sad to hear of your passing this morning, you were so young! You have been a loyal friend of the union for many years, continues the coaches union, chaired by former coach Raymond Domenech. We share the pain of your family and loved ones and we offer them our most sincere condolences.” It is the current club of his son, Benjamin Stambouli (33 years old), the Turkish team of Adana Demirspor, which reported the news this Friday on the networks.
Henri Stambouli had a discreet career as a goalkeeper, at Monaco and OM. It was in Marseille that he began his second life, that of technician, first reserve coach then in the staff of the first team or even head coach during the 1994-95 season, after the demotion of the club to L2. He then held several positions, as coach (Guinea, Mali, Togo) or club coach (Sedan, Las Palmas, Club Africain, Rabat, Istres, JS Kabylie), also assistant (Sedan, ASM).
Stambouli also served as director of the OM and Montpellier training centers. Both clubs offered their condolences. “We learned with deep sadness of the death of Henri Stambouli, director of the Training Center from 2013 to 2018. Our thoughts are with his wife, his sons, Romain and Benjamin and his loved ones. Rest in peace Henri,” we can read in a message from the MHSC. “The former coach and director of the Olympian training center, Henri Stambouli has left us. In this painful moment, Olympique de Marseille joins in the sadness of his family and loved ones,” said Olympique de Marseille.
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