French soccer tactician Henri Michel who trained several teams in Africa, has died.

The French footballers' union (UNFP) announced on Tuesday that Michel died aged 70.

"Henri Michel, a colossus of French football, left us this morning," the UNFP wrote on Twitter, adding their "sincere condolences to his family and friends".

His long career in Africa saw him coach Morocco, Cameroon, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya.

World Cup

It was his time with Morocco from 1995 to 2000 that he led the Atlas Lions to qualify for the 1998 World Cup staged in France.

At club level, Michel managed Egyptian side Zamalek, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Raja Casablanca of Morocco for two terms.

He managed France between 1984 and 1988, taking over after a France team containing Michel Platini won the European Championships under Michel Hidalgo.

Michel led Les Bleus to the 1984 Olympic title.

Born in Aix-en-Provence, Michel played in midfield for Nantes and earned 58 international caps between 1967 and 1980. He was a three-time winner of the French league title.

Single judge

The French man was hired as Kenya's Harambee Stars coach in August 29, 2012, taking over from Francis Kimanzi, but he quit under a cloud of uncertainty two months into the job for reportedly non-payment.

He sued the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to world football governing body, Fifa’s Player Status Committee and the single judge of the committee ordered FKF to pay the Frenchman approximately Shs4.5 million in July 2016.

During his stint, he led Stars in two friendly matches, a 2-1 loss to South Africa in October 2012 at the Nyayo National Stadium and a 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in November.