Robert Herbin (30 March 1939 – 27 April 2020) was a French football defender and manager. A one-club man as a player AS Saint-Étienne, he later managed the team for eleven years. He won five Ligue 1 titles as a player and four as a manager, and his team lost the 1976 European Cup Final to FC Bayern Munich at Hampden Park. Born in Paris, he moved to Nice as a child as his father played trombone at the Opéra de Nice. He moved from a local club to Saint-Étienne at age 18, for 2.5 million French francs (around €3,600 in 2020). Herbin was dismissed by Saint-Étienne in February 1983 amidst the slush fund scandal that ended their period of national dominance. He was instantly hired by their Rhone derby rivals Olympique Lyonnais and could not prevent their relegation three months later, going on to spend two seasons in Ligue 2 with them. After a big-money job with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia and work with RC Strasbourg Alsace, he returned to Saint-Étienne in 1987 but was unable to restore their success over the next three years. He was recognisable for his large red hair, and for his reserved personality he was known as "Le Sphinx". In retirement, he lived alone with his dog near Saint-Étienne and avoided social events, while also suffering from alcohol and tobacco abuse. References External links Profile Profile on French federation official site 1939 births 2020 deaths Footballers from Paris French footballers France international footballers Association football defenders AS Saint-Étienne players Ligue 1 players 1960 European Nations' Cup players 1966 FIFA World Cup players French football managers AS Saint-Étienne managers Olympique Lyonnais managers RC Strasbourg Alsace managers Red Star F.C. managers Ligue 1 managers Al Nassr FC managers