Bruno Metsu, the ‘White Sorcerer’ dies

The former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu has died of cancer at the age of 59.

Known as “The White Sorcerer”, Metsu was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2012 having replaced Diego Maradona as coach of Al Wasl in Dubai.

Metsu stood down as coach of Dubai first division side Al Wasl in October due to health reasons. He subsequently told L’Equipe newspaper in July that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

“I underwent medical tests and the guy announces to me afterwards that I had terminal cancer. ‘You have cancer of the colon, the liver and the lungs.’ They gave me three months to live, It was such a shock,” he said.

He died at a clinic in his home town of Coudekerque-Village in northern France.

“He died overnight at 3:30 a.m,” said Herve Beddeleem, the executive director of BCM Gravelines-Dunkirk basketball club told AFP, confirming a report in La Voix du Nord newspaper.

“I am shattered by this news. Bruno had everything to be happy: an exemplary professional career, money, a happy marriage and children and then this cancer takes him away. It’s just incredible,” he said.

Metsu is best remembered for coaching Senegal to a 1-0 win over the defending world champions France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

Senegal reached the last eight and also got to the Africa Cup of Nations final in the same year.

He went on to achieve success in the Middle East, winning the Gulf Cup in 2007 as head coach of the United Arab Emirates before becoming Qatar coach in 2009.

He also coached Al Ain to the Asian Champions League title in 2003.