According to reports on National helm, French football has been rocked by the death of 15-year-old Mohamed Savane. The midfielder – who spent two years in the youth set-up at Stade Reims – was playing with friends when the tragedy occurred. It is believed that the youngster suffered a suspected heart attack on the pitch, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and Bordeaux all offering their condolences. Savane played for Reims’ U14 and U15 side’s before joining partner club Cormontreuil FC last summer. The Ligue 1 outfit have announced they will pay tribute to their former youth star against Rennes on Sunday, where they will hold a minute’s silence in his honour. While his face will be projected onto the screens inside Stade Auguste-Delaune, with players to wear black armbands out of respect. Speaking of the player, Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot said: “I do not have words. To leave at 15 years is already a real drama.
“But when it happens more on a football field, between friends, we are in dread. The whole club thinks of Mohamed’s family, his parents in particular, and his family.
Stade de Reims✔@StadeDeReims
Le SDR profondément sous le choc. Passé par les U14 et U15 du club avant de rejoindre cet été le Cormontreuil FC, Mohamed Savane s’est éteint hier, lors d’un match entre amis. Le SDR est tourné vers sa famille, ses proches et tout le football rémois, secoués par ce drame.
Meanwhile, just yesterday Manchester United former coach, Eric Harrison, who was the coach credited with producing Manchester United’s famous Class of 92 youth side, has died at the age of 81. News of his death was confirmed on Thursday by United, where Harrison spent 17 years as a youth team coach after moving from Everton in 1981. Manchester United’s most influential Eric speaks – no, not that one.
“Manchester United is extremely saddened to report that our former youth coach Eric Harrison passed away on Wednesday,” the club said.“Eric served United with distinction as a mentor of young players, including a number of prodigies who achieved great success with club and country after graduating to the first team at Old Trafford.”
Harrison, who played as a wing-half for Halifax and Hartlepool before turning to coaching on his retirement in 1972, was responsible for producing the group of players who were originally known as “Fergie’s Fledglings”, including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who went on to play for the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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