Rolland Courbis passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the age of 72, as announced by his family and RMC.

Rolland Courbis, a brilliant and popular character, committed his life to football with brilliance, humanity, and enthusiasm. In these difficult times, our thoughts are with his spouse Clara, his children Olivia and Stéphane, Countess Ljuba Rizzoli, his loved ones, colleagues, and all of his devoted listeners.

Rolland Courbis dominated the RMC airwaves for more than two decades. He knew how to pass on his passion of football: the culture of hard work and advancement, the value of teamwork, and respect for the game and its players, without losing sight of the joy.

On RMC, his passion was evident via his characteristic Marseilles dialect and a very direct relationship with listeners: a free-flowing tone that allowed him to speak the fans’ language and share their questions and feelings.

He was especially good at being personable and friendly while keeping high standards in his analysis.

Rolland Courbis, often known as “Coach Courbis,” was a former French player, coach, and sports pundit who was well-known in the public for his outspoken views on RMC.

Born in Marseille on August 12, 1953, he began his professional career as a defender, playing for Olympique de Marseille, AC Ajaccio, Olympique Lyonnais, and Monaco.

He then became a coach and worked on various benches in France and overseas, including Bordeaux, Montpellier, Rennes, Ajaccio, and Marseille, as well as clubs in Algeria and the Gulf nations.

Since 2005, he has been a notable media character as a consultant on RMC, where he has commented on football news with his straightforward approach, educational assessments, and distinct Marseilles accent.

His voice and mannerisms have become known to listeners of sports debate shows and match nights, earning him the title of one of the station’s iconic “voices of sport.”