To gain perspective on how long ago it was that Jean-Pierre Adams ended up in a coma, one can think that the United States was then ruled by Ronald Reagan, the Soviet Union by Leonid Brezhnev and Sweden by Thorbjörn Fälldin. The year was 1982 and the former national team player Jean-Pierre Adams was to undergo knee surgery. But after receiving an almost lethal dose of anesthetic, he never woke up again. He was pronounced dead on Monday after being cared for by his wife for the past 39 years.
Jean-Pierre Adams was born in Senegal and was seen as a pioneer of French footballers with an African background. He came to France with his grandmother when he was ten years old and was then adopted by a French couple. He found his way to football early and was recruited as a 22-year-old by the professional club Nimes. He then continued his career in Nice and Paris Saint-Germain, among others. He played 22 international matches for France between 1972 and 1976.
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