IVORY COAST COACH:
Henri Michel

Frenchman Henri Michel has made a career coaching African teams. The Ivory Coast is his fourth team, after directing Cameroon (1994 World Cup), Morocco (1998) and Tunisia (2002), although he quit the north African team in protest only 67 days before the start of the competition in Korea and Japan after the Tunisian Football Federation fired Frenchman Albert Rust. He also coached the United Arab Emirates from 2000-01. Michel's greatest success came with France, directing the French to the 1984 Olympic gold medal and the National Team to a third-place finish at Mexico '86.

Born on Oct. 29, 1947, Michel played midfield for Aix and Nantes and made fifty-eight appearances for the national side, including playing in the 1978 World Cup. Before turning to coaching, he began his coaching career with Paris St. Germain and Al-Nasr. He replaced countryman Robert Nouzaret, who resigned in March 2004. "I'm very proud to have taken over this Côte d'Ivoire team," Michel said several months later. "It's a fine side, with so much potential that I won't understand it if we don't qualify for the World Cup. It's a very exciting challenge." He is a bit shy of the spotlight. Michel did not attend the presidential gala after qualifying. "The players, who are the real heroes, must be allowed to enjoy this moment with the people of Côte d'Ivoire," he explained on French television. They have earned the right." Michel has been under intense criticism and scrutiny by the Ivory Coast media and fans, who do not always comprehend his tactics and team selections. In fact, some within the Ivory Coast Football Federation reportedly harbor the same feelings.