Claude Simonet, president of the FFF, thanked Lemerre for his services to French football before announcing that the 61-year-old's four-year reign had been brought to a halt.
"Mr. Roger Lemerre has been discharged from his position as national team coach," said Simonet.
"However, he will remain a member of the national technical director's staff."
Roger Lemerre's four-year tenure as France's head coach is over. (AP Photo)
Lemerre, who led France to the UEFA European Championship in 2000, left Korea and Japan frustrated after his team of stars failed to win a single game or score a goal at the tournament, the worst record of any team defending champion in World Cup history.
When he succeeded Aimé Jacquet in 1998, having previously been his assistant, the French had just been crowned world champions on home soil. Lemerre was left the legacy of a squad containing the likes of Fabien Barthez, Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane and Laurent Blanc, but also the pressure of repeating that year's historic success.
"With Aimé Jacquet I was surrounded by a group of players that really fascinated me," Lemerre said later.
"That is why I took this job. I felt that I was a part of the group and that I had its total confidence."
A player with CS Sedan Ardennes, FC Nantes, AS Nancy Lorraine and RC Lens, and capped six times for France, Lemerre coached Red Star of Paris, RC Lens, Paris FC, RC Strasbourg and Tunisian side L'Esperance de Tunis prior to joining the national setup.
Lemerre's spell in charge began with a friendly draw in Austria, but EURO 2000 qualifying proved more difficult. Indeed, France's place at the finals was only secured by a single point in their final fixture, a victory against Iceland.
Yet once at the tournament, France hit top form, opening with a 3-0 win against Denmark and beating Spain and Portugal in the knock-out rounds. Lemerre's team then became the first reigning world champions to win the European Championship, beating Italy with David Trezeguet's "golden goal."
Perhaps the seeds of future defeats were sown in that victory, however, as inspirational captain Blanc and stalwart Didier Deschamps both retired from international football with 200 caps between them. In their place came the relative inexperience of Patrick Vieira and the aging Frank Leboeuf.
Lemerre's side qualified automatically for Korea and Japan as the defending champions and despite some disappointing friendly results were expected to challenge strongly. The coach went for an experienced squad, based around the likes of Desailly, Zidane and Barthez.
But after the shock opening defeat by Senegal was followed by a goalless draw with Uruguay and 2-0 loss against Denmark, the French were eliminated in the first-round stage. It was seen as inevitable after that early return that Lemerre would leave his post and his replacement is likely to lead a much changed France squad in their EURO 2004 defence.
