Latest news with #Coupet
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
I've played with Zidane and Henry but facing Celtic in the Champions League was my most magical career memory
Former France and Lyon hero Gregory Coupet will never forget his visit to Glasgow's East End 22 years ago Lyon legend Gregory Coupet enjoyed a stellar career that saw him win seven Ligue 1 titles and represent his country at the European Championships in 2008. But the 52-year-old is in no doubt about the best experience he ever experienced on the pitch during his 28 years as a professional. The Frenchman was in his pomp when Lyon travelled to Celtic Park for a Champions League group stage clash in September 2003. The Ligue 1 powerhouses went into tie off the back of consecutive league titles but were blown away by the Hoops, with goals in either half from Liam Miller and Chris Sutton handing Martin O'Neill's side an impressive 2-0 win, despite Coupet saving a penalty from Alan Thompson. Coupet's team would get their own back on Celtic three months later, with midfield maestro Juninho netting a late penalty in a 3-2 victory to deny the visitors a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. And while the former stopper - who won 32 caps for his country and also turned out for Saint Etienne, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain - played in many iconic stadiums around the continent during his illustrious career between the sticks, he says that 'magical' night at Parkhead trumps the lot. Coupet puts the atmosphere generated at Celtic Park ahead of the cauldron of noise that can be heard in Fenerbahce's Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Speaking to L'Equipe, he said: "I put Celtic above all because there is a cathedral effect, magnificent chants, no animosity. It's magical." Coupet isn't the only former Ligue 1 star to have some warm words for the famous old ground. Ex Barcelona, Manchester United and PSG goal machine Zlatan Ibrahimovic described his experience of walking out in Glasgow's East End back in 2001 when he came off the bench for Ajax in a Champions League tie. Reflecting on his career, he said: "I have played in the biggest games of world football. "But I have never experienced an atmosphere like I did at Celtic Park." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
'Cathedral effect': Ex-France keeper ranks Celtic Park above all
Gregory Coupet, who played against Celtic with Lyon in 2003, ranked the Glasgow stadium as the best he has experienced in his career. The former France, Lyon, and Paris Saint-Germain player, who won seven French league titles, played against Celtic in a memorable Champions League night. Read more: Speaking to L'Equipe, Coupet was asked to recall the top three most memorable atmospheres he played in. He said: "I put Celtic above all because there is a cathedral effect, magnificent chants, no animosity. "It's magical." Other stadiums that made his top three were Fenerbahce's in Turkey and the stadiums of Lyon's and Lens' rivals. He is the latest in a long line of players and managers who have praised the atmosphere at Celtic Park. Adrien Rabiot, Coupet's fellow Frenchman, also recently recalled his experience at Celtic Park with PSG. He said [CARRE]: "With PSG, we played against Celtic Glasgow. "We were winning 5-0, but the guys kept singing, it was incredible, I'd never seen that before. "You know, it's the emotions you experience, even though you're the opposing team. "Even my family was in the stadium, they still remember it, because it's the things you experience. "You say, the guys took 5-0, but they're singing all over the stadium." He put Celtic Park second on his list, with Marseille in first place.
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Ex-PSG keeper recalls visit to 'cathedral' Celtic Park
The now 52-year-old, who won seven French league titles in his playing days, turned out against Celtic in Glasgow in 2003 with Lyon. Goals from Liam Miller and Chris Sutton secured victory for a side managed by Martin O'Neill on a memorable Champions League night. Read more: Recently speaking to L'Equipe, Coupet was asked to recall the top three most memorable atmospheres he played in. "I put Celtic above all because there is a cathedral effect, magnificent chants, no animosity," he said. "It's magical. "I put Fenerbahce [second] because I don't know if it's still the case, but at the time, the stand was across the entire width, not behind the goals. And they had big drums, really warlike chants, extraordinary. "In third place, I think it's all the derbies I've known, both at Gerland [Lyon's stadium] and at Geoffroy-Guichard [home of Lens]." Coupet is only the latest figure to praise Celtic Park's renowned ambience. His fellow countryman, Adrien Rabiot, recently spoke of his experience in Glasgow's east end: "With PSG, we played against Celtic Glasgow," he told CARRE. "We were winning 5-0, but the guys kept singing, it was incredible, I'd never seen that before. "You know, it's the emotions you experience, even though you're the opposing team. "Even my family was in the stadium, they still remember it, because it's the things you experience. You say, the guys took 5-0, but they're singing all over the stadium. "So it's things like that that mark me, but Marseille, I place it at the top."
