Mama Ouattara, ici avec Laurent Blanc, future star du club, dans le vestiaire de Grammont. Midi Libre – Archives
Le défenseur ivoirien, qui a porté le maillot montpelliérain de 1974 à 1983, fait partie des pionniers qui ont bâti la réputation du club sur le terrain avant d’exceller en tant que formateur auprès des jeunes.
He was water and fire. He cultivated the art of opposites to combine a rare hardness on the field and an infinite elegance off it. Mama Ouattara, the first African to wear the Hérault jersey alongside Emmanuel Moh, left her mark on Montpellier with her humanist imprint and her fierce taste for combat for nine seasons and 230 matches (1974-83).
A Midi Libre special issue of 84 pages
Condensing half a century of history into 84 pages. This is the challenge taken up by the sports editorial team at Midi Libre in this special edition on the 50th anniversary of the MHSC. Available on newsstands on December 11 for just €5, this glossy magazine will allow you to relive the great moments in the history of the Montpellier club through our “50” who made the MHSC. Players, coaches and builders, of course, starting with this “Nicollin Saga”, told by Laurent and Colette, the wife of the late Loulou. A special edition packed with anecdotes and unpublished photos with an exclusive interview with Olivier Giroud.
Available since December 11th in newsstands Midi Libre
After two unsuccessful years in Nîmes (1972-74), then at the height of its glory under the influence of Kader Firoud, Mama Ouattara, an Ivorian defender, grafted himself onto the roots of La Paillade. He accompanied the first steps of Louis Nicollin's club, climbing all the steps to the first division.
“Closer to Boli than to Desailly”
“He is a man who deserves respect and a player who earned respect on the field. His style was closer to Boli than to Desailly”, summarizes Michel Mézy, who played alongside him in central defense at the end of his career.
Read also: 50 years of MHSC: "Until his last breath, he will be at my side”, Michel Mézy forever at the right hand of the father
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“He was a defender in keeping with the times. He was a stopper like no other in modern football,” recalls Jean-Marc Valadier. At the time, he was in charge of marking the centre forward in a man-to-man duel. With his physical presence, he stamped his grinta and shaped the reputation of the Paillade as a tough guy in the Mosson cauldron.
“He introduced me to Bob Marley and was interested in politics”
“He had everything you needed to become a professional player and embody the values of the Paillade”, praises Robert Nouzaret, coach at the time (1976-80).
Also read: 50 years of the MHSC: "When we got started, we were mainly thinking about having a laugh”… Robert Nouzaret's memories
Beyond her expertise, Mama Ouattara displays a great open-mindedness and kindness towards everyone. “When I arrived from the AS Saint-Martin club, I was very young. He behaved like a big brother to me. We spent a lot of time together. He introduced me to Bob Marley and was interested in political life”, recalls Jean-Marc Valadier, as France prepares to bring François Mitterrand to power.
“A taste for transmission in her body”
Within a team guided by old glories, such as Fleury Di Nallo or Hugo Curioni, Mama Ouattara still belongs to the young guard. Very quickly, alongside Jean-Louis Gasset, he adheres to Nouzaret's requirement to take care of the football school on Wednesdays.
Mama Ouattara (top center), in 1979 within the MPSC which plays in D2. We recognize the striker Hugo Curioni, at the top right. Midi Libre – Archives
“For both Jean-Louis and Mama, coaching was a second job. Both had this taste for transmission in their bodies”, testifies Jean-Marc Valadier.
Read also:50 years of MHSC: Fleury Di Nallo Little Prince of Gerland becomes first star of La Mosson
After various experiences in the outskirts of Marseille, notably in La Ciotat, Mama Ouattara returned to be one of the prominent trainers in Montpellier. With Fleury Di Nallo, he forms a complementary pair, between the former instinctive scorer and the methodical intellectual. “With his brilliant approach, he captivated his audience and enjoyed explaining his ideas of the game”, says Yves Prouget, former manager of Montpellier.
First Gambardella Cup
Mama Ouattara then successfully managed the training center. During the 1995-96 season, he allowed Montpellier to improve its youth record with the first of its three victories in the Gambardella Cup. And, relies on the Ivorian phenomenon Ibrahima Bakayoko.
Read also: 50 years of MHSC: Jean-Marc Valadier, local scorer and first guide to a new world
The following season, with a completely different generation, he failed in the final against the Lyon school, led by Malbranque, Balmont, Bréchet…
He collapsed at 52, in the middle of a training session
Then, he continued his work as a trainer within the Ivorian Federation, notably at the head of the Espoirs. Then, he joined the A team as assistant to the coach Henri Michel.
“In the middle of a training camp, Henri Michel called me one evening in June 2004 to tell me that he had died (52 years old Editor's note) in the middle of a session. While he was accompanying the players in an exercise, he collapsed”, says Michel Mézy. Died on the scene of his passion.
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