Joël Lopez (footballer, born 1960)
French footballer
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Joël Lopez (born 30 October 1960) is a French former footballer who played as a midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joël Lopez | ||
| Date of birth | 30 October 1960 | ||
| Place of birth | Aressy, France | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Jeanne d'Arc | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1979–1982 | Pau | ||
| 1982–1983 | Châteauroux | ||
| 1983–1984 | Pau | ||
| 1984–1985 | Bordeaux | ||
| 1985–1986 | Mulhouse | ||
| 1986–1987 | Thonon | ||
| 1987–1992 | Pau | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1999–2002 | Pau | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Lopez, who played for Jeanne d'Arc at youth level, started his senior career with Pau in 1979, remaining until 1982 when he agreed to join Division 2 outfit Châteauroux.[1][2] Lopez completed a return to Pau a year later, prior to signing for Division 1 side Bordeaux.[3][2] The club won the title in his sole season there, qualifying for the 1985–86 European Cup.[2] However, Lopez departed Bordeaux at the beginning of 1985–86 to play in Division 2 for Mulhouse.[3] His stay lasted twelve months, preceding a period with Thonon between 1986 and 1987.[2] In the latter year, Lopez rejoined former team Pau for a third time.[3][2] Five years later, he retired from football.[3][2]
Non-playing career
In 2005, Lopez became president of Pau; having previously been a coach and the team's manager between 1999 and 2002.[2][4] He served for five years, before deciding not to continue his mandate.[4] December 2013 saw Lopez become acting president of Évian Thonon Gaillard; he was previously Évian's sporting director which followed a period working in recruitment.[3][5] Lopez, along with Julian and Pascal Dupraz, were summoned to court following allegations of fraud and forgery in 2015, when Lopez was dismissed by the club.[6][7] In 2017, Lopez and Pascal Dupraz were charged and fined €10,000; with Julian Dupraz being cleared.[8] Lopez later returned to Pau as vice-president.[9]