Raymond Kopa (born October 13, 1931), originally Raymond Kopaszewski, is a French former football midfielder, integral to the French national teams of the 1950's. October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... The Midfield in relation to the football positions In association football, a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders (highlighted in blue on the diagram). ... First international Belgium 3 - 3 France (Brussels, Belgium; 1 May 1904) Biggest win France 10 - 0 Azerbaijan (Auxerre, France; 6 September 1995) Biggest defeat Denmark 17 - 1 France (London, England; 22 October 1908) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1930) Best result Winners, 1998 European Championship Appearances 6 (First in...

Kopa, born in Nœux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais, son of Polish immigrants, began his professional career at 17 with SCO Angers, and was transferred two years later to Stade de Reims, with whom he won French championships in 1953 and 1955. With Reims, he was a finalist in the first European Cup final in 1956, losing to Real Madrid and Alfredo Di Stéfano 4-3. He was transferred to Real Madrid the subsequent season, where he was soon joined by Ferenc Puskás. Champion of Spain in 1957 and 1958, Kopa became, with Real Madrid, the first French player to win the European Cup. He would go on to win again in 1958 and 1959, the last against Stade de Reims and Just Fontaine. Pas-de-Calais is a département in northern France named after the strait which it borders. ... Angers Sporting Club de lOuest (Angers SCO) is a French football club based in Angers. ... Stade de Reims-Champagne is a French association football currently playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. ... The UEFA Champions League (formerly named but still often called the European Cup) is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid. ... Alfredo Di Stéfano (born July 4, 1926 in Barracas, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine-born former footballer and coach, acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. ... Ferenc Puskás (April 2, 1927–November 17, 2006) (Hungarian: Puskás Ferenc, nickname Puskás Öcsi, Spanish: Ferenc Puskas Biro), was a legendary Hungarian football forward and coach. ... Just Fontaine (born August 18, 1933 in Marrakech, Morocco) was a French football player. ...

Kopa returned to France in the 1959-60 season to finish his career with Reims, where he won Championnats in 1960 and 1962. In total, he scored 75 goals in 346 matches in the Ligue 1, and was given the Ballon d'or by France Football in 1958. Ligue 1 (Première division or Division 1 until 2003) is the top division of French and Monegasque football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. ... Andriy Shevchenko with Golden Ball The Ballon dor (from French, English translation is Golden Ball) is a football award, created in 1956 by the French football magazine France Football. ...

With the France national football team, he scored 18 goals in 45 games between 1952 and 1962. He played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, where the French team finished third, losing to the Brazilian team and Pelé. He was also voted as the 1958 Best Player of the Tournament and the 1954 Best Young Player of the Tournament, becoming the first and only one so far to win both. First international Belgium 3 - 3 France (Brussels, Belgium; 1 May 1904) Biggest win France 10 - 0 Azerbaijan (Auxerre, France; 6 September 1995) Biggest defeat Denmark 17 - 1 France (London, England; 22 October 1908) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1930) Best result Winners, 1998 European Championship Appearances 6 (First in... Qualifying countries The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from June 8 to June 28. ... First international Argentina 3 - 0 Brazil (Buenos Aires, Argentina; September 20, 1914) Biggest win Brazil 14 - 0 Nicaragua (Mexico; October 17, 1975) Biggest defeat Uruguay 6 - 0 Brazil (Viña del Mar, Chile; 18 September 1920) World Cup Appearances 18 (First in 1930) Best result Winners, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994... Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football (soccer) player and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. ... At the end of each World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game. ... At the end of each World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game. ...

He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football (soccer) player and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. ... Pelé The FIFA 100 was unveiled on March 4, 2004 at a gala ceremony in London to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of football. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Titles and distinctions

• French championship in 1953, 1955, 1960 and 1962 with Stade Reims
• Liga in 1957 and 1958 with Real Madrid
• French second division in 1966 with Stade Reims
• UEFA Champions League in 1957, 1958 and 1959 with Real Madrid
• UEFA Champions League runner-up in 1956 with Stade Reims
• Latin Cup in 1953 with Stade Reims and 1957 with Real Madrid
• Latin Cup runner-up in 1955 with Stade Reims
• 1958 FIFA World Cup third place with France
• Ballon d'or in 1958
• Legion d'Honneur on 30 November 1970 (First footballer to hold it)

Ligue 1 (Première division or Division 1 until 2003) is the top division of French and Monegasque football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. ... Stade de Reims-Champagne is a French association football team from Reims currently playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. ... The Spanish football league is called La Liga. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid. ... Ligue 2 is the second division of French football. ... Stade de Reims-Champagne is a French association football team from Reims currently playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. ... The UEFA Champions League (formerly named but still often called the European Cup) is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid. ... The UEFA Champions League (formerly named but still often called the European Cup) is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... Stade de Reims-Champagne is a French association football team from Reims currently playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. ... The Latin Cup was an international football tournament for club sides from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. ... Stade de Reims-Champagne is a French association football team from Reims currently playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid. ... The Latin Cup was an international football tournament for club sides from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. ... Stade de Reims-Champagne is a French association football team from Reims currently playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. ... Qualifying countries The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from June 8 to June 28. ... Andriy Shevchenko with Golden Ball The Ballon dor (from French, English translation is Golden Ball) is a football award, created in 1956 by the French football magazine France Football. ... French Legion of Honor The Légion dhonneur (Legion of Honor ( AmE) or Legion of Honour ( ComE)) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

References

• http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/historique.php?cherche_joueur=KOPA&submit=go
• http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur13179.html