Néstor Combin


Néstor Combin is a French former football player who spent most of his professional career in France.
He played as a striker throughout his career, mainly with Olympique Lyonnais and the French national team.
He was dubbed "La Foudre" in France, for his speed, and "Il Selvaggio" in Italy, for his fighting spirit.
In a game between A.C. Milan and Argentine side Estudiantes for the 1969 Intercontinental Cup, Combin was dealt with aggressively by rival players and had his nose broken. When he was leaving the stadium he was arrested, under a charge of desertion. After international pressure and indignation rising, he was released. In 2015, Raúl Madero blamed Combin as the fighting incitater, by provoking Ramón Aguirre Suárez in the first match, in Italy, saying "negro, don't warm up anymore because in one month I earn the same money that you receive in two years".

Club career

Combin scored 117 goals in Ligue 1, 68 with Olympique Lyonnais and 49 with Red Star.
Then he played in Italy, with Juventus, Varese, Torino and Milan.
He Eventually ended his career in France with Red Star.
He was one of the first French internationals who played abroad in Italy's Serie A. He won several titles there, including a Coppa Italia with Juventus and another with Torino and an Intercontinental Cup with Milan.
He played 38 games with Juventus, and scored 32 goals in three seasons for Torino
.

International career

Combin was born in Argentina, and was of French descent through his maternal grandmother. He has 8 caps with the France national team, obtained between 1964 and 1968, and scored four goals.
He played at the 1966 FIFA World Cup with France.

Honours

Club

Olympique Lyonnais
Juventus
Torino
AC Milan