An eccentric genius to some, and just plain eccentric to his critics, the shaven-headed goalkeeper was undoubtedly one of the most flamboyant figures in international football.
Being different, though, is nothing new to a footballing man who grew up in the southwestern heartland of French rugby, and whose stand-off half father Alain once played for his country in the 15-a-side game.
A man of few words and whose accent bears the distinctive twang of the southern French, Barthez soon settled in to life at the Stade Velodrome and an unforgettable debut season.
Marseille won their fifth consecutive league title at a canter and lifted the European Cup, the first French club ever to do so, after beating AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
Shortly afterwards, their dream run turned into a nightmare when Barthez's team were stripped of that domestic league title and banned by UEFA from defending their European crown after it emerged that club officials had bribed Valenciennes players to throw a late-season league game.
It did not prevent Barthez earning his first international cap and a move to the Cote d'Azur in 1995 to join Monaco.
Barthez spent five years there with its near-empty Louis II stadium, winning the league title in 1997 and 2000.
Advertisement
