The 2024-2025 season is only just beginning and French football is losing one of its most worthy representatives. On September 11, 2024, Didier Roustan died from an illness detected before the summer, at the age of 66. The announcement came as a shock in football and journalistic circles, as evidenced by the flood of tributes in honor of the native of Brazzaville (Congo) since Wednesday morning.
First there were the first tributes. Those who spread the news before it was confirmed by the media, and first L’Équipe, his last employer. At 10:27, the mayor of Cannes David Lisnard paid tribute to the memory of a “passionate Cannes resident, attached to the red and white”, photo of the journalist with an AS Cannes jersey in support, he the former amateur player with the Dragons.
Then comes the astonishment. That of journalists who knew and worked with Didier Roustan for years, but also of anonymous people, stunned to learn the news. “I can’t believe it… It’s not possible,” wrote for example the journalist from RMC Daniel Riolo.
Then come the memories. Because Didier Roustan never went unnoticed. By his look, his voice, his opinions. Whether at the beginning of Téléfoot in the 1970s or by his reports on Antenne 2, or more recently in L’Équipe du Soir, on the L’Équipe Channel, which will dedicate a special program to him this Wednesday evening.
On Europe 1, it was not without emotion that Michel Denisot, with whom Didier Roustan had commentated on the Euro 1984 semi-final between France and Portugal, paid tribute to his friend. “We were close. There was real affection. So it’s very difficult today. He loved Cantona, Maradona… These players with this human style. He highlighted the one who made the pass as much as the one who scored the goal,” recalls the former PSG president.
“He was driven by a passion for the game. Everything else, the business of football, was not his passion. He also had a phenomenal memory. And from all eras. He was nostalgic for that,” he continues, citing the name of Johan Cruyff, a figure of romantic football that no longer exists today in Roustan’s eyes.
On X, videos of Didier Roustan’s commentary are reappearing, like this goal by Marseille’s Lucho Gonzalez against Rennes on May 5, 2010, which guaranteed the title of Champion of France to the Olympians. “Lucho, left foot, and why not? You place it my rabbit! And my little one! My little Lucho”, Didier Roustan raves about the Argentinian, recalling Thierry Giraldi’s lyrical flight on Franck Ribéry’s goal against Spain at the 2006 World Cup.
At L’Equipe, Michel Platini also paid tribute to Didier Roustan. “He was a football lover and a revolutionary in journalism,” said the 1984 European champion. “He arrived after Thierry Roland and before Thierry Gilardi, with his own style, his voice, his passion for South America, and his good knowledge of football. We were buddies, but not friends, I was probably a bit too normal for him… He preferred Diego or Canto. We had lunch together in Cassis a few months ago. He came to see me very kindly. He was really a good person.”
Clubs, associations, institutions, players, colleagues and simply football fans are today adding their stone to the immense tribute that French football is paying to Didier Roustan. This Wednesday, tens of thousands of “brave” people are mourning him.