PARIS (AP) — Michel Hidalgo, the coach who led France to the 1984 European Championship title and the 1982 World Cup semifinals, died on Thursday. He was 87.
The French Football Federation confirmed the death.
Hidalgo coached the national team from 1976-84 and led host France to its first major title at Euro 1984 with midfielder Michel Platini scoring nine goals.
Les Bleus reached the World Cup semifinals two years earlier but lost to West Germany in a penalty shootout.
Soccer purists adored the way Hidalgo’s teams were almost fixated on creativity, even at the expense of defending.