The first half, including the first half: one hour on the line. It was necessary that to chart the course of one of the wealthiest French coaches. In truth, with exactly 647 games in L1, Claude Puel (61) is fifth in terms of longevity. After 601 professional matches with the AS Monaco shirt (two championships in 1982 and 1988, two French Cups in 1985 and 1991), the defensive midfielder made his debut on the bench at the ASM in January 1999; he will be champion of France a year and a half later. Then they successively drive Lille, Lyon, Nice, Southampton and Leicester to England, then Saint-Étienne. Let’s open the Guy Roux de Castres memory box!
If your mother hadn’t stopped you from playing it for fear of hurting you, you would have written an autobiography on rugby …
He vetoed it, yes. Let’s say that in Castres we are more likely to try the oval than to play football, of course. My father was a prostitute, he was not big but he had such vitality that he performed the function perfectly (You smile).
Defensive midfielder, not surprisingly.
See you there, see you there.
Do you go to the stadium to see the games?
I am “forced” to follow Castres Olympique. So I’m friends with Christophe Urios. I have also always had relationships with Berbizier, Galthié… Rugby players and footballers have things in common. They are beautiful encounters that favor the exchange, the comparison of ideas. AND…
“I’m the CO but I like the stadium and its part left to creativity”
Oui …
Even though there is a lot of rivalry, I like the Stade Toulousain. Two types of rugby. Toulouse and its way of playing by constantly supporting the game. Let the players be creative, this is what interests me. I’m a Dupont fan. No, I’m not going to the stadium. I am domiciled above Monaco, not too much land of ovals necessarily …
It all started in Lagarrigue, “on the outskirts” of Castres as you say.
I still have a family: my father, my brother, my sister. I return from time to time. But my house, where we all meet, is in the Principality; I bought a piece of land and built it when I was still a player. It is just above the Louis-II stadium; I definitely see the bulletin board there.
Why an autobiography and why today?
I have been contacted several times, I told myself that I was not well known enough. If I had accepted one day, I would have wanted to do it myself. With my words, my feelings. I also took advantage of the break I had after Saint-Étienne. To go back to doing it because I had already started in England.
Did you choose “Free” as the title?
I had the privilege of playing and, above all, training without ever having to make concessions. In all my experience, I have never accepted that people impose things on me. Freedom is sacred. I am not a careerist; is what I explain in the book.
You got a little naked in the book, right?
I don’t feel very comfortable with one or two fingers, I got in front of the car and drove off. It is true that I am a rather reserved person, even modest. Talking about oneself and oneself is not easy. At first glance, this is unnatural. Now, since football is the common thread …
Does this book mark the end of your career?
No, this does not affect anything; I remain equally passionate. I am still young, full of energy. After that I will only leave if I have a project that allows me to be demanding, immediately in performance playing the Champions Cup or leading roles. In a European championship.
“Player or coach, I’ve never had an agent …”
No advantage today?
I have a lot of stresses, constantly; however, they don’t match me. I’ve never had an agent, on the pitch or on the bench. I’ll have to think about it.
The figure of 1,248 games played and managed makes you dizzy …
The French record, my little peculiarity.
How do we last so long in this ruthless universe?
Lots of resilience.
You started at the age of 9 at Étoile Sportive Castraise.
I didn’t know you could make it your profession. Then I found myself selected for the cadet team of France; which was an event for the club. I’ll be promoted to captain! I was very versatile, I was able to play in all defensive and midfield positions; at 23-24 I ended up stabilizing in the middle of the defense and I will stay there. Finally, I repaired three times in the cages. The first was against the Nantes of Baronchelli, Amisse, Touré. I had been beaten. We all went out and when I went to goal we were 1-0 down. I had made big bailouts. It was also, well, Canal’s first match on TV (11/9/1984).
We still learn that you are the king of jugglers …
In the courtyard, behind the house. It was to prepare for the Adidas Contest: 300 juggling with the right foot, 300 with the left, 300 with both and 100 with the head plus a timed course. I ended up with a stiff neck, I’m not telling you … The top five national teams went up to Paris to parade half-time in the Coupe de France final. I don’t even remember the poster …
In addition to Trois-Poumons, did you also have the nickname of Robocop?
Even with a fracture, I was in pre! They also nicknamed me Raymond. Compared to Domenech: on the pitch I had a certain expression close to, let’s say, intimidation.
“And Arsene (Wenger) fell on his back, in the snow, with his arms outstretched!”
Monaco therefore, we cannot close the chapter without mentioning this famous training tackle on Arsène Wenger who “moaned, on the ground, with his arms crossed” …
He fell on his back, he was a bit stuck – mostly in the snow (laughs). Well, she held no grudges.
You start training at 38, he’s young!
I was assistant to Jean Tigana who is resigning. And, slowly, we move up in the standings to finish one point behind the 1999-2000 Champions League when we started from 11And square. They were looking for a renowned technician. Until Prince Albert did not want me to continue.
The special of “Titi” Henry, is you!
So it will work on its own. But it is true that Thierry was used to playing on the left, going inside and then kicking hard with the instep. He rarely framed; he was exploding in the clouds … So I imposed a plastic statuette on him, then a real defender.
Player or manager, the most gifted element you have faced?
Oh dear, so hard … I mention a lot of players in my book. In Munich, above all. The best on the planet, the ASM managed to recover them.
In Lille (2002-08) you had a particular fondness for Eden Hazard …
I started it at 16 because it already had everything. I can’t say I even trained him after he was inborn. He is a talent. A true.
The funniest ?
I prefer to learn life lessons: players who will make careers – international – while they will be eliminated from the centers, lost to football; posting posters for example. Personally, I took the children to trial for two or three days because I was told about them … these revelations, there are a lot of books. Drawing (He smiles).
“Pep Guardiola is the first to have put up a high pressure”
Guardiola, your model?
For ten years Pep has been the one who has revolutionized the game the most: he is the first to have put high pressure on the opponent’s field.
Finally, your definition of a coach?
A unifier. He is the only one in this world of football that is rowing against the tide. He is the one who fuses the individualities and the individualists. It is there so that each player thinks collectively while maintaining the particularities of him. You will have understood all the beauty and difficulty of the trade.
