Joël Bats (born January 21, 1958, in Toulouse, France) is a former French professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent the majority of his career with AJ Auxerre (1977–1985) and Paris Saint-Germain (1985–1992), earning a reputation as one of France's top goalkeepers during the 1980s and early 1990s. Bats was known for his consistency, reflexes, and leadership between the posts.
He earned 43 caps for the French national team between 1982 and 1990, serving as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper during several major tournaments, including the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, where France reached the semifinals and finished third. He also represented France at UEFA Euro 1984, where the team won the championship, although he was the backup goalkeeper behind Jean-Luc Ettori during that tournament.
Bats won several domestic honors, including Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and domestic cups with both PSG and Auxerre. He retired from professional football in 1992.
After retiring, Bats largely remained out of the public eye, though he has occasionally been referenced in retrospectives on French football history. He is regarded as a respected figure in French football, particularly for his role during a successful era for the national team and PSG.