Quick Facts
Biography
Nicodeme Boucher (born 20 November 1966) is a Senegalese football coach and former player. Standing at 1.97 meters high, he was known for being the tallest layer in the S.League in his time;he was also known for his goalscoring talent.
Career
Reunion
Aged 20, the Senegalese striker signed for FC Bourges, a team that oscillated between the French second and third divisions at the time. Then, Boucher moved to Vierzon FC, a club within the French fourth tier. Following a one-year spell at Kaizer Chiefs, Boucher was contacted by an agent who offered him a club in Reunion, US Possession where he scored 18 goals on average each season.
S.League
After spending four seasons with US Possession, he trialed with Tiong Bahru F.C. at the end of 1996. Dutch coach Robert Alberts decided to sign the then 28-year old, who responded with 5 goals in 4 games and double figures by the end of the season. Soon, however, the forward unilaterally decided to return to Reunion Island for "personal reasons" in 1998. Eventually, Tohari Paijan, the new Tanjong Pagar coach, went to Reunion Island which induced Boucher to return mid-season. Throughout the remainder of the season, he scored 11 goals which catapulted the Jaguars to a Singapore Cup and Singapore FA Cup double. In 1999, Boucher rejoined US Possession but came back to Tanjong Pagar United again and formed a so-called 'Twin Tower' attacking partnership with countryman Boubacar Seck, scoring 11 goals in 13 appearances. However, his time at Tanjong Pagar would be truncated by a fight with Warriors FC player Tan Kim Leng which led to one-year ban from playing in Sinagpore.Instead, the attacker was snapped up by SS Saint-Louisienne, winning the 2001 and 2002 Reunion Premier League titles as well as participating in the 2002 and 2003 CAF Champions League campaigns with the club. At the age of 37, Boucher made one final return to Tanjong Pagar, netting one goal. On account of an enervating knee injury, he was released after a few months and spent some time recovering, followed by a four-season spell with AC Excelsior.
Coaching
Retiring at the age of 41, Boucher was asked to take the reins of the AC Excelsior senior team in 2008, guiding them to a second-place finish in the league and domestic cup. Following that season, the former player relocated to France in 2010 and took charge of FC Agen, winning the 2012 third division title in the process. After spending a brief period with US Creysse, the coach was handed the SU Agen Football manager post in 2014 but left two years later because of a change in management despite renewing his contract in 2015.
Personal life
His brother, Jules, is also a former footballer who played for FC Bourges as well.
Coaching licenses
- UEFA 'A' License
Honors
- Singapore Cup(1): 1998
- Singapore FA Cup(1): 1998