BIOGRAPHY
Jackson Richardson was born in 1969 on La Réunion and began playing handball there as a child. He was spotted by national head coach Daniel Costantini at the age of 19, and moved to France to join Paris-Asnières, and become part of the French national team.
Richardson had a successful career in the 1990s playing predominantly in France, with this period including some of his first international successes. He was part of the French team that won bronze at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and gold at the 1995 IHF Men’s World Championship; he was also named MVP of the world championship in 1990 and 1995, and IHF World Player of the Year in 1995.
With OM Vitrolles he won the Cup Winners’ Cup, but other countries were calling. In 1996 Richardson moved to Germany to play for TV Großwallstadt, where he continued to make his mark - and also picked up another MVP award at the EHF EURO 2000.
Arguably Richardson’s greatest triumphs came after he joined Portland San Antonio in 2000. In that season Portland won the EHF Champions League for the first - and only - time, defeating Barcelona 52:49 on aggregate in the final. Richardson scored 10 goals across the two matches.
Richardson retired from the national team in 2005, the same year he returned to France to join Chambéry Savoie. He remains the most-capped French player of all time, with appearances in 417 matches and 775 goals scored.
Richardson’s impact on the sport was significant, and he is remembered for his handball intelligence and his contribution to both attack and defence. He also has a son - Melvyn - who is now a member of the national team, playing right back for France and for Barcelona.
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