Stade de Reims will pay tribute this weekend to one of its most emblematic footballers of the past. Just Fontaine played six seasons THE red And whites in what was the French club’s most dominant era.
Before the match against Montpellier HSC, a statue of the late Reims striker will be inaugurated on Sunday in front of the Auguste-Delaune stadium at 3:30 p.m. local time.
Fontaine’s widow, Arlette, as well as her children and grandchildren, will be present for the special ceremony.
This ceremony comes almost six years after another Reims legend was honored with a statue of his own, teammate of Fontaine for three seasons at THE red And whitesthe late Raymond Kopa.
The sculptor Juan Carlos Carrillo created the statue of Fontaine with the collaboration of Mathias Galichet.
Reims supporters will have the opportunity to see the 300 kg bronze statue for the first time on Sunday afternoon.
💫 Before the meeting against @MontpellierHSCthe Club will meet you on the square for the inauguration of the 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞.
⏱️ 3:30 p.m.
📍Auguste Delaune Stadium pic.twitter.com/PaBKdd3CJQ– Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) October 3, 2024
It is said to be an echo of the ‘Smiling Angel‘, a famous statue of Reims Cathedral.
During Fontaine’s tenure at Reims, the club won three Ligue 1 titles in four seasons from 1957-58 to 1961-61 and finished second in the European Cup (now Champions League) in 1959-60 , with the French striker of Moroccan origin. finishing top scorer in this competition (10 goals).
He was also top scorer in the French elite twice and won the Golden Boot at the 1958 World Cup with 13 goals, a record which still stands today.
In 2013, Fontaine received the Legion of Honor (Legion of Honor), France’s highest honor, both military and civilian. Fontaine died on March 1, 2023 in Toulouse at the age of 89.
