Franck Sauzée joined Hibernian in February 1999 as the club were battling for promotion from the First Division under the guidance of Alex McLeish.
A French international with multiple league medals and most notably a Champions League winner with Marseille, Sauzée’s arrival in Leith would have been surprising at the best of times – never mind with the club playing in the second tier.
Nicknamed ‘Le God’ by supporters young and old, Sauzée’s standing at Hibs has not diminished despite the fact he’s not been back to Easter Road in nearly 20 years.
With signings from Raith Rovers, Clydebank, Greenock Morton and Scarborough during the 1998/99 season, the capture of a player with 39 international caps for France was a landmark moment for Hibernian and one that would go on to define the next three years.
Sauzée arrived at Hibernian with ten games remaining in the First Division and helped the side to victories in nine of them, the only league defeat following the Frenchman’s arrival coming in a 2-0 loss to Clydebank at Boghead.
Wearing the number four shirt, already iconic at Easter Road thanks to the one and only Pat Stanton, Sauzée’s influence can still be seen at matches home and away with fans in shirts bearing his name to this day.
Sauzée’s French international team mate Gilles Rousset was playing in goals for Hearts during the 1998/99 season and would prove to be an important factor in his arrival at Easter Road.
Speaking as part of the Inside Easter Road documentary during the 1999/2000 campaign, Sauzée said:
“When we talked about Scottish football, he [Rousset] enjoyed the passion on the pitch and in the stands, the fans, the city of Edinburgh which is very nice.
“I would like to have an experience in Scotland, so when my agent called me and told me ‘Franck, maybe there is a deal between you and Hibernian’, I told him ok we will go and see.”
With Sauzée’s help, Hibernian would go on to win the First Division title 23 points ahead of closest challengers Falkirk, regaining their place in the top flight at the first time of asking. With only 10 appearances in his debut season, supporters were captivated by the prospect of watching a giant of European football representing Hibs in the top flight.
Sauzée’s time as a player at Easter Road led him to have a close affinity with the supporters who adored his character and ability on the pitch. It was a relationship which he didn’t take for granted, remembering the reception he received in his early days in green and white fondly.
He said: “I remember my first game with Hibernian, the fans were very friendly with me. I was a new player but the fans were superb with me – and you don’t forget.”
With an air of class around the place when Le God got on the ball, it was clear the Frenchman’s experiences meant he was a cut above the majority of players at Easter Road.
Sauzée’s ability helped to motivate those around him to step up and his presence elevated the squad to heights they otherwise may not have reached during his time in a green and white shirt.
A player who was a danger anywhere around the opposition box thanks to his excellent ball striking, Sauzée very rarely scored a bad goal and it’s because of this that so many of his best moments in a Hibs shirt remain so unforgettable.
In his second season at Easter Road the Hibees finished in 6th place in the ten team Scottish Premier League and reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup where they lost out to Aberdeen at Hampden Park.
Despite a midtable finish in the league, the season’s most memorable moments would come in the Edinburgh derby, with Sauzée scoring against rivals Hearts twice in the space of three months.
Sauzée’s iconic strike in the Millennium Derby, a 3-0 win at Tynecastle on 19th December 1999, is familiar to fans of any age and will live long in the list of great goals against Hearts. Just as recognisable is the image of Sauzée celebrating with John Hughes after the pair ran the length of the pitch to be with the travelling Hibs support in the Roseburn Stand.
The Frenchman’s second goal against Hearts was a looping header from the back post in a 3-1 win at Easter Road which resulted in a bleeding mouth for his troubles. In true Sauzée fashion he dusted himself down, jogged back into position and helped his side to secure three points.
The 2000/01 season saw Hibernian finish third in the Scottish Premier League and runners up in the Scottish Cup in what would be Sauzée’s last full season as a Hibs player and Alex McLeish’s last in charge of the club.
With just one loss in the opening 15 matches in the league, things were looking incredibly promising for McLeish’s side with victories over everyone apart from Celtic and Dunfermline.
In amongst the excellent run of early results was the 6-2 demolition of Hearts on 22nd October 2000.
Despite going a goal down at Easter Road, goals from David Zitelli, John O’Neil, Russell Latapy and a hattrick from Mixu Paatelainen secured a memorable night in Leith in a match where Franck Sauzée featured for 90 minutes.
A really strong league campaign finished poorly however with five defeats in the last nine games. Despite this, Hibernian were comfortably the country’s third best side with a 12-point gap between them and nearest rivals Kilmarnock.
An excellent run in the Scottish Cup would see Hibs defeat Livingston at Hampden Park to tee up a final appearance against league champions Celtic. On a difficult afternoon at the national stadium Hibs fell to a 3-0 defeat thanks to goals from Jackie McNamara and a Henrik Larsson double.
The third-place finish in the league would result in the club qualifying for the UEFA Cup for the first time in nine years, setting up the famous tie against AEK Athens the following season.
2001/02 saw Sauzée approaching his 36th birthday and in the twilight of a glittering professional career injuries started to catch up with him. When Alex McLeish made the move to Rangers in December 2001, Sauzée was asked to step up to the role of manager – he did so following the announcement of his retirement from playing.
With an outstanding record as a player and 2.5 great years at Hibs behind him, it was hoped that Sauzée’s transition into management would be just as successful. Unfortunately, with a weaker playing squad and with little experience in coaching, Sauzée’s time in the Easter Road dugout didn’t go to plan.
With only one win in his 15 games in charge, Sauzée was dismissed as Hibernian manager after only 69 days. It’s a decision which still angers some Hibs fans to this day and is viewed as an incredibly poor way to treat a man who had given so much to the club during his time as a player.
Such was his impact as a member of the playing squad at the club, supporters’ adoration for Sauzée has not dwindled despite his unfortunate tenure as manager.
One of few Hibs men to say they have never lost an Edinburgh derby, in Sauzée’s case as a player or manager, Le God will forever be remembered by the Hibs support with a fondness and respect that is reserved only for the very best.
A hero to fans who were lucky enough to see him play and an enigma for those who have grown up to support the club since, Sauzée has been rumoured to return to Edinburgh on numerous occasions over the years with nothing coming to fruition – until now.
Franck will return to Scotland’s capital in early 2022 for a special, one-off appearance at an event organised by the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation giving supporters the chance to see the great man once again.
Full details of the charity dinner are to be announced in due course – stay tuned to the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation social media channels to be first to know.
You’ll never beat Sauzée.
The East Stand 