Full Name: Raymond Kopaszewski
Profession: Footballer
Biography: Raymond Kopa was considered one of football's elite attacking midfielders during the 1950s. He was nicknamed 'the Napoleon of football'.
He began his professional career at age 17 with Angers in French Ligue 2 and was transferred two years later to Ligue 1 club Reims where he won 2 French Championships (1953, 1955), the Latin Cup (1953) as well as reaching the 1956 European Cup Final where Reims was edged, 4-3 by Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Kopa transferred to Real Madrid for the 1956–57 season and was soon joined by Hungarian superstar Ferenc Puskás. The pair guided 'Los Blancos' to 3 consecutive European Cup titles as well as the Spanish La Liga title (1957, 1958).
In 1958 Kopa was awarded the Ballon d'Or as football's Player of the Year. He made 45 international appearances for France and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1958.
In 1959 he returned to finish his career with Reims, winning 2 more Ligue 1 titles (1959, 1961).
In 1970 he became the first football player to receive the Légion d'honneur, the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. In 2004 Pelé named him one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony.
Born: October 13, 1931
Birthplace: Noeux-les-Mines, Hauts-de-France, France
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Goat/Sheep
Star Sign: Libra
Playing Career
- 1956-12-18 Ballon d'Or: Blackpool & England winger Stanley Matthews wins inaugural award for best football player in Europe; beats Real Madrid pair Alfredo Di Stéfano & Raymond Kopa
- 1958-12-16 Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid's French midfielder Raymond Kopa wins award for best football player in Europe ahead of German winger Helmut Rahn and French forward Just Fontaine
- 1959-12-15 Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid forward Alfredo Di Stéfano wins his second award for best football player in Europe ahead of teammate Raymond Kopa and Juventus' Welsh utility John Charles
References
Famous Footballers
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