The Cup final opposed Olympique Marseille to Monaco: two of the strongest French teams at the moment, the champion of 1988 vs the champion of 1989. The battle was worth every minute: 7 goals, really tied fight. Marseille prevailed 4-3.
Monaco ended the season without a trophy. A good season, but losing both championship and Cup was bitter.
And here are the fresh Cup winners! Dramatic victory, but it was theirs to enjoy. Standing from left: Gaëtan Huard, Yvon Le Roux, Franck Sauzée, Bruno Germain, Eric Di Meco, Karlheinz Förster
Crouching: Frédéric Meyrieu, Klaus Allofs, Jean-Pierre Papin, Philippe Vercruysse, Philippe Thys.
Almost a great team. On the verge of becoming a great team – a little polishing, 2-3 new classier players and sky would be the limit. Not an aging team either, so the future looked very bright, especially after a season which matched ambition with results – a double does not come everyday. It was a round record 10th Cup for Marseille and their 2nd double. The first double was achieved in 1971-72, the last great season of their wonderful team from the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was their first Cup after 1975-76 – the last season they won any trophy. So, now they had 6 titles, 10 Cups, 2 doubles! After so many years of suffering – back on top and how! Marseille was going to be like the great team of the late 1960s and early 1970s – the similarity was evident: once again, a team of stars and money to buy more. The future was ensured, guaranteed and looked very optimistic – at least, at that moment in time, before dirty laundry was uncovered. At this moment not just Marseille recovered glory – the whole French football was on optimistic track, for it looked like Marseille was building a team capable to impress Europe, as St. Etienne did in the mid-1970s.
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