{{Short description|French footballer (born 1957)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Didier Knayer | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|11|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Toulouse, France | height = 1.85 m<ref name="wf"/> | position = Centre-back | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = INF Vichy | years1 = 1974–1977 | clubs1 = INF Vichy | years2 = 1977–1979 | clubs2 = Bastia | caps2 = 8 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1979–1983 | clubs3 = Béziers | caps3 = 115+<ref group="lower-alpha">Statistics for the 1981–82 season are incomplete.</ref> | goals3 = 1+ | years4 = 1983–1986 | clubs4 = Orléans | caps4 = 96 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 1986–1989 | clubs5 = Martigues | caps5 = 90 | goals5 = 4 | totalcaps = 309+ | totalgoals = 10+ }}
'''Didier Knayer''' (born 26 November 1957) is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.<ref>{{BDFutbol|54294}}</ref> In his career, he played for INF Vichy, Bastia, Béziers, Orléans, and Martigues.<ref name="wf">{{WorldFootball.net|id=didier-knayer}}</ref>
== Club career == After starting his career at INF Vichy, Knayer joined Bastia following a recommendation by Pierre Pibarot. Knayer participated in Bastia's run in the 1977–78 UEFA Cup;<ref>{{Cite web|title=DIDIER KNAYER|url=http://usoarago.canalblog.com/archives/2007/04/14/4620837.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2021|website=L'USO ARAGO, SANG ET OR|date=14 April 2007 |language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126143511/http://usoarago.canalblog.com:80/archives/2007/04/14/4620837.html |archive-date=2009-11-26 }}</ref> he played during the club's 3–1 victory over Newcastle United in the second round.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Solubastia|date=25 October 2007|title=8 saisons en deuxiéme division itinéraire d'un rêve brisé.....|trans-title=8 seasons in the second division led to a broken dream...|url=https://solubastia.skyrock.com/3.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2021|publisher=Skyrock|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911023114/http://solubastia.skyrock.com/3.html |archive-date=2014-09-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stromboni |first1=Alain |last2=Benard |first2=Yann |title=Epopée du Sporting de Bastia en 1978 : "l'ADN de ce podcast, c'est l'histoire dans l'histoire" |trans-title=Sporting Bastia's 1978 epic: "the DNA of this podcast is history within history" |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/corse/haute-corse/bastia/epopee-du-sporting-de-bastia-en-1978-l-adn-de-ce-podcast-c-est-l-histoire-dans-l-histoire-2759618.html |access-date=1 April 2025 |work={{ill|France 3 Régions|fr}} |date=26 April 2023 |language=French}}</ref> He made eight Division 1 appearances during his stay at the Corsican club.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} In 1979, Knoyer joined Béziers.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Ahead of the 1983–84 season, he was recruited by Orléans.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kurbos|date=27 February 2013|title=DANIEL LEOPOLDES|url=https://kurbos.skyrock.com/3145781424-DANIEL-LEOPOLDES.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2021|website=|publisher=Skyrock|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911005219/http://kurbos.skyrock.com/3145781424-DANIEL-LEOPOLDES.html |archive-date=2014-09-11 }}</ref> In 1986, Knoyer signed for Martigues. He ended his professional career three years later in 1989.<ref name="wf" />
== International career == Knayer was a France youth international.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
== Personal life == Didier's father {{Interlanguage link|Jean-Pierre Knayer|lt=Jean-Pierre|fr|Jean-Pierre Knayer}} was also a footballer.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
After his football career, Knayer became a real estate developer in Santa-Maria-di-Lota.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
== Honours == '''Bastia'''
* UEFA Cup runner-up: 1977–78<ref>{{Cite web|title=KNAYER Didier|url=https://www.corsefootball.fr/scb/fiches-joueurs/knayer-didier/|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2021|website=Corse Football|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809132831/http://www.corsefootball.fr/scb/fiches-joueurs/knayer-didier/ |archive-date=2014-08-09 }}</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knayer, Didier}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Toulouse Category:French men's footballers Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:INF Vichy players Category:SC Bastia players Category:AS Béziers Hérault (football) players Category:US Orléans players Category:FC Martigues players Category:French Division 3 (1971–1993) players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Ligue 2 players Category:20th-century French sportsmen
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