Coupet extends Lyon stay
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Article summary
Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais have extended French international goalkeeper Grégory Coupet's contract by three seasons until the summer of 2010.
Article body
Two minds
Coupet, 34, had considered retiring at the end of this term, but has been persuaded to stay on by the six-time French champions. "It was not an easy decision to make," he said. "For the first time I was worried about playing one season too many, or having an adventure abroad. I thought it would be a good idea to go out on top.
'Special'
"This season has been a little bit strange because we were criticised for 'only' being champions. But in the end [Lyon official] Bernard Lacombe and [club president] Jean-Michel Aulas persuaded me and we reached an agreement." Coupet, who has been capped 27 times by France, joined Lyon eleven years ago from AS Saint-Etienne and has subsequently claimed consecutive titles between 2002 and 2007, making 351 Ligue 1 appearances overall.
