Georges Carnus

Georges Carnus is a legendary goalkeeper of French football in the 60s and early 70s, a period during which he was one of the very best players in the championship.

618

Games

665

Goals Conceded

172

Clean Sheets

Trophies

1958/62 AS Aix (FRA) 85 matches

(French Championship D2: 77 matches)

(Coupe de France: 7 matches)

(Coupe Charles Drago: 1 match)

1962/67 Stade Français (FRA) 195 matches

(French Championship: 171 matches)

(Play-offs: 4 matches)

(Coupe de France: 12 matches)

(Coupe Charles Drago: 3 matches)

(UEFA Cup: 5 matches)

1967/71 Saint-Etienne (FRA) 167 matches

(French Championship: 130 matches)

(Coupe de France: 25 matches)

(European Champion Clubs' Cup: 12 matches)

1971/74 Olympique de Marseille (FRA) 135 matches

(French Championship: 109 matches)

(French Cup: 16 matches)

(European Champions Clubs' Cup: 6 matches)

(UEFA Cup: 4 matches)

With the National Team :

36 caps

(Friendly matches: 20 caps)

(World Cup qualifiers: 7 caps)

(Euro qualifiers: 9 caps)

1st cap: April 28, 1963 against Brazil (2-3)

Last cap: May 19, 1973 against Eire (1-1)

B: 1 cap

Georges Carnus

Born August 13, 1940 in Gignac-la-Nerthe (FRA)

French, Goalkeeper, 1m80

Nickname: La Carne

One of the best players in the championship

Georges Carnus was born on August 13, 1942 in Gignac-la-Nerthe, France. The son of an amateur goalkeeper, he was trained from a young age under the advice of his father and began his career at US Marignane. Georges was finally spotted by Germain Régnier who signed him with AS Aix-en-Provence. He made his professional debut there in 1958 at the age of 16.

A player who loved aerial duels, he did not hesitate to come off his goal line like a good modern goalkeeper. On April 28, 1963, he was a starter for the French national team for the first time, against Brazil, he lost 3-2.

After a 5-year stint with Stade Français, Carnus signed with ASSE. There, he would become one of the legendary goalkeepers of the French championship and one of the best French players of the period. He won the French championship 3 times, the French Cup 2 times and the Champions Trophy 2 times in Saint-Etienne.

Individually and collectively, it was a great success, in 1970 and 1971, he was elected French player of the year, while he was a goalkeeper. Statistically the goalkeeper responded, during the 1969/70 season, he peaked at 45 matches played, 36 goals conceded and 19 clean sheets. During the 1970/71 season he was at 36 matches played, 40 goals conceded and 13 clean sheets.

Departure to Marseille and tragic end of career

In 1971, he joined Olympique de Marseille where he would impose himself. Upon his arrival, he won the French championship in 1972 as well as the French Cup. A magnificent double. Georges Carnus played 52 matches, conceded 53 goals and kept 16 clean sheets.

But in 1974, when the player was only 33 years old, his career ended tragically and brutally. On June 28, 1974, he was the victim of a terrible car accident that decimated his family. Seriously injured, he survived but lost his wife and three daughters. The player lost his taste for life and would never play football again at a professional level. He would later become a representative of the Adidas brand where he would work for 25 years.

A victim of competition with Marcel Aubour, he would still play more than his rival with a total of 36 matches for France but would not play a match during the 1966 World Cup, despite being in the squad.