Christian Lopez (footballer)

Christian Lopez (born 15 March 1953) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Not to be confused with Cristian López.

Christian Lopez
Lopez in 1976
Personal information
Date of birth (1953-03-15) 15 March 1953
Place of birth Aïn Témouchent, Algeria
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1968–1969 AS Rocheville
1969–1971 Saint-Étienne
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1982 Saint-Étienne 350 (21)
1982–1985 Toulouse 79 (7)
1985–1986 Montpellier 24 (2)
1986–1987 Montélimar
Total 453 (30)
International career
1975–1982 France 39 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Lopez was born in Aïn Témouchent, French Algeria. In a 15-year professional career, he amassed Ligue 1 totals of 429 games and 28 goals in representation of AS Saint-Étienne and Toulouse FC. He won seven major titles during his spell with the former club – including two doubles[1][2]– and shared teams with legendary Michel Platini in his final three seasons.[3]

Lopez spent the 1985–86 campaign in Ligue 2 with Montpellier HSC, retiring at the age of 34 after a spell in amateur football with UMS Montélimar.[1] He later worked simultaneously as sporting director and assistant coach for Championnat National 3 side ES Cannet Rocheville.[4][5]

International career

Over seven years, Lopez earned 39 caps for the France national team and scored once. He made his debut on 26 March 1975, in a friendly against Hungary (2–0 win in Paris).

Lopez was part of the squads that appeared in the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups. He featured in four matches for the Bleus in the latter tournament, with the country finishing in fourth position.[6][7]

Honours

Saint-Étienne

References
  1. "Les joueurs les plus fidèles au maillot vert" [The most faithful players to the green shirt]. Le Progrès (in French). 26 February 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. Talluto, Franck (9 May 2016). "1976, les verts écrivent la légende" [1976, the greens write the legend]. Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. "Il y a quarante ans, Michel Platini signait à l'ASSE" [Forty years ago, Michel Platini signed with ASSE]. Le Progrès (in French). 27 July 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. Bacquié, Maxime (29 November 2021). "ES Cannet-Rocheville – OM: "fantastique pour le club" réagit Christian Lopez" [ES Cannet-Rocheville – OM: "fantastic for the club" reacts Christian Lopez] (in French). France Bleu. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  5. Albano, Mario (30 November 2021). "Coupe de France: l'ES Cannet-Rocheville pour l'OM en 32e de finale" [French Cup: ES Cannet-Rocheville for OM in the round of 64]. La Provence (in French). Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. "World Cup 1978 finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  7. "World Cup 1982 finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  8. Giffard, Paul (12 May 2020). "Ça s'est passé un 12 mai 1976: La finale perdue de l'AS Saint-Étienne en coupe d'Europe des Clubs Champions face au Bayern Munich" [It happened on 12 May 1976: The final lost by AS Saint-Étienne in the European Cup against Bayern Munich] (in French). France Télévisions. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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