Rolland Courbis Dead at 72, Football Loses One of Its Most Unforgettable Voices
Tonight, the world of football is quieter and French sports radio has lost one of its most recognizable voices.
Rolland Courbis has passed away at the age of 72 and for millions of fans, it feels personal. For more than two decades, Courbis was not just a commentator or a former coach. He was a companion. Someone you listened to late at night after a match. Someone who spoke football the way supporters feel it.
Born in Marseille in 1953, Rolland Courbis grew up with football in his blood. He played professionally as a defender, wearing the colors of clubs like Marseille, Lyon, Monaco and Ajaccio. His playing career may not have made him a global star, but it laid the foundation for everything that followed.
It was on the bench where Courbis truly made his mark. As a coach, he led teams in France and abroad, from Bordeaux to Montpellier, from Rennes to Marseille and even beyond Europe. He believed in hard work, collective spirit and progress. Not flashy slogans, but real football values.
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Then came the radio years and that is where Rolland Courbis became a household name. On RMC, his voice was instantly recognizable. That strong Marseille accent. That direct tone. That way of explaining tactics like he was talking to a friend at a café. He didn’t hide behind jargon. He spoke the language of supporters.
Courbis was demanding, sometimes sharp, often provocative, but always sincere. He could praise a player one minute and criticize him the next, but you always knew it came from passion, not ego. His punchlines became legendary, shared, quoted and remembered long after the shows ended.
For RMC listeners, his presence was constant. Match nights. Heated debates. Long discussions about football’s evolution, money in the game and respect for players. He stayed accessible, warm and deeply human, even when opinions clashed.
His passing leaves a real gap. Not just for the station, but for French football culture as a whole. A voice like his cannot be replaced by a format or an algorithm. It was built over a lifetime of experience, mistakes, comebacks and love for the game.
Tonight, thoughts go to his family, his partner Clara, his children Olivia and Stéphane and everyone who shared his journey. And to the fans, who will still hear his voice in their memories every time football sparks a debate.
Rolland Courbis is gone, but his words, his passion and his unique way of talking football will stay with us. And that, in this game, is a legacy that truly lasts.
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