Claude Le Roy, the French coach of the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo, stands out as the most experienced among the coaches heading to the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Here’s a brief overview of Claude Le Roy’s history with the CAN:
- 1985: He began his African coaching journey with Cameroon.
- 1988: Achieved victory in the CAN organized by Morocco.
- Six (6): The total number of CAN tournaments contested by Le Roy as a Frenchman on the bench of a national team (he will participate in his seventh CAN in 2013).
- Four (4): The total number of African national teams he has coached.
- Two (2): His return to the DRC bench marks the second time he has coached two national teams after his initial stint. His first comeback was with Cameroon.
Coaching Stints:
- 1985-1988: Coached the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, reaching the final in 1986 and winning the trophy in 1988.
- 1989-1992: Coached the Senegalese Lions, reaching the semi-final in 1990 and exiting in the quarter-finals in 1992.
- 1998: Returned to the Cameroon bench for the France 1998 World Cup.
- 2004-2006: Coached the DRC, reaching the quarter-finals in the 2006 CAN, hosted and won by Egypt.
- 2006-2008: Led Ghana in the 2008 CAN, reaching the semi-finals and winning the bronze medal match against Ivory Coast.
- September 2011: Returned to the DRC, qualifying the Leopards for CAN 2013.
The final phase of CAN 2013 will take place from January 19 to February 10, 2013, in South Africa.
