After Bats was promoted to the club's first team in the summer of 1976, he had to compete with Albert Rust for playing time over the next four seasons, with the two of them being alternated in matches.

[citation needed] On 7 September 1983, Bats made his debut for the senior France team in a 3–1 friendly away loss to Denmark.

[4] However, he uncharacteristically let a free-kick from Andreas Brehme slip through his hands in the semi-final against West Germany, which France lost 2–0.

[citation needed] Bats had a brief, undistinguished spell as head coach (July 1998 - September 1999) of Division 2 club L.B.

[citation needed] In the summer of 2000, Bats was appointed goalkeeping coach at Olympique Lyonnais, a post that he held continuously until December 2017.

During his 17 years at OL, he coached three goalkeepers who played for their countries at the senior level - Grégory Coupet, Hugo Lloris and Anthony Lopes.

[5][6] Bats was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer of 1982, but quickly made a full recovery after surgery.

[3][4] In 1986, Bats put his poetry to music, releasing an album named Gardien de tes Nuits (Keeper of your Nights).