Ex-France World Cup player leaves Lyon, set to join Montreal Impact staff

Remi Garde looks set to add a familiar face to his Montreal Impact coaching staff.


Lyon announced Monday that goalkeeping coach and former France international JoĆ«l Bats will be leaving the club to join the Impact, though the Impact have not yet confirmed the appointment. Bats served as goalkeeping coach under Garde when he managed Lyon from 2011-2014. Garde was hired as Impact head coach last week.


Bats, 60, spent 18 years playing in the French top flight and appeared in 50 matches for France from 1983-1989. He was on the French roster for their victory at UEFA Euro 1984 in France and was the No. 1 for Les Bleus at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.


According to Lyon, he'll stay with the French club through the end of December, at which point heā€™ll join the Impact.