Former French football star Jean-Pierre Adams dies after 39 years in coma

PARIS (AP) – Jean-Pierre Adams, the former defender of France and Paris Saint-Germain who spent 39 years in a coma, has died. He was 73 years old.

In a poignant tribute on Monday, PSG called him the club’s “glorious elder”.

“Her joie de vivre, her charisma and her experience command respect. Paris Saint-Germain offers its condolences to his family and loved ones, “PSG said in a statement on Monday.

Adams, cared for by his wife Bernadette, has been lying in a coma at his home in the city of Nîmes, in southern France, since 1982.

He was injured in a game and required knee surgery. During the operation at the Lyon hospital, an anesthesia error caused him to fall into a coma.

As a young boy, Adams left his home country, Senegal, with a passion for football.

He was spotted by Nimes in 1970 and scored 10 goals in 98 appearances for the club before playing nearly 150 games and scoring 17 goals for Nice.

Adams moved to PSG in 1977 and played there for two seasons. He then put an end to his playing career in 1981 after brief periods in Mulhouse and Chalon.

He won his first selection for France in 1972 and played 22 times for the Blues.

Even though Adams was relatively short for a center-back at 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches), he formed an imposing partnership with Marius Tresor.

The last of Adams’ international appearances was in Denmark in 1976.