Bernard Pascal Maurice Lama (born 7 April 1963) is a French former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. As a member of the France national team, he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000. Lama most notably played in the French Division 1 for Lille OSC, FC Metz, Brest, RC Lens, Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes, and in the Premier League for West Ham United.
In 2006, Lama briefly coached the Kenya national team, his only professional managerial experience.
Early life
Bernard Pascal Maurice Lama
was born on 7 April 1963
in , Indre-et-Loire, a commune that merged into the neighboring
Tours in 1964.
Club career
Early years
Lama left
French Guiana in 1981 to come to metropolitan France, without his father's consent but determined to become a professional footballer,
where he was first signed by Division 1 club
Lille OSC. He was loaned to
SC Abbeville in 1982, where he failed to make a single appearance, and he returned to Lille after just one year, only to be loaned again to Besançon. He did get some play time that year, and his performances were convincing enough for Lille to agree to keep him for the following season. From then on, Lama played regularly, and even scored a goal (a penalty kick during the 8–0 win over
Stade Lavallois on 31 May 1989),
but was never the indisputable number 1 keeper he aspired to be, and so he decided to leave. He spent one year in
FC Metz, and then took part in Brest's last season in first division. Lama actually played every single league game during those two seasons. He then spent one year with
RC Lens, where his performances attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, who offered him a five-year contract.
The golden years
In Paris, Lama had to replace the iconic Joël Bats, and his impressive performances quickly showed he was up for the task. His career took a new dimension when he took part in European competitions, and even got called up for the France national team. He won the Coupe de France twice in 1993 and 1995, and in 1996, his most prestigious trophy yet, the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Downfall
Despite an interest from
La Liga giants
FC Barcelona, Lama decided to stay in Paris, and had an excellent start of season that was cut short by a serious knee injury in September 1996 after he saved a penalty against
AS Cannes,
having not conceded a single goal so far that season. Shortly after his return, he received a two-month ban for consumption of cannabis in February 1997.
[ Cannabis : deux mois de suspension ferme pour Lama ] This led PSG to look for a new goalkeeper, and Lama was notified during the summer 1997 (while he was still suspended) that Christophe Revault would be the starting goalkeeper for the following season, and that Lama was free to look for a new destination.
Lama found himself without a club at the start of the 1997–98 season, training with the PSG reserve team. During the winter transfer window and only six months away from the World Cup, he finally agreed on a short-term contract with Premier League club West Ham. Though signed on 21 December, he did not start in a match until 2 March against Arsenal, whereupon he kept a clean sheet.
End of career
After six months spent in England, he made the most of the change of president in Paris (Charles Biétry replacing
Michel Denisot) to return to the capital's club, where he spent two more seasons. Despite a more than decent 1999–00 season, he was notified that, due to Paris' youth policy, his services were no longer needed, and that
Lionel Letizi would replace him as the club's first choice goalkeeper. He quickly found a new club, Rennes, where he spent a very good season, at the end of which he expressed his desire to fulfill his childhood's dream and play for a Brazilian club. Unfortunately for him, no club expressed any interest in signing him, which led to his announcing the end of his career.
International career
Lama's debut with the France national team was on 17 February 1993 against Israel in a 4–0 victory, and he would go on to win 44 caps for his nation.
Lama played in the Euro 1996 finals, and was a substitute at the Euro 2000 finals. He also won the 1998 FIFA World Cup as a substitute of
Fabien Barthez but did not play a single match.
Style of play
Lama was a goalkeeper who possessed excellent reflexes and shot-stopping capabilities, and was known for his ability to pull off spectacular saves. He is considered to be one of the best French goalkeepers in history, being named the greatest French goalkeeper of all time in
IFFHS' Century elections.
Coaching career
On 21 July 2006, Lama was appointed coach of the Kenya national team.
Kenya, however, lost on his debut to Eritrea on 2 September 2006, during an African Nations Cup qualifier, and he quit just two months later, citing the lack of professionalism of the Kenya Football Federation, and was replaced by Tom Olaba.
Honours
Paris Saint-Germain
-
Division 1: 1993–94
-
Coupe de France: 1992–93,
-
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1995–96
-
Trophée des Champions: 1995
France
-
FIFA World Cup: 1998
-
UEFA European Championship: 2000
Individual
-
Onze Mondial: 1993, 1994, 1995
-
France Football's best French player award: 1994
Orders
-
Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1998
External links
