Former Fenix player (2016-2018) and future technical manager of the Toulouse training center, Romain Ternel is living his last weeks as a professional player with Limoges who will be moving to Toulouse tomorrow. The perfect time to confide.
Romain, the Fenix formalized at the beginning of the year your reconversion at the head of the training center. Explain this choice to us?
When I left Fenix Toulouse in 2018, the club already wanted to keep me in the management but I was 31 years old and I still wanted to play. For two years, Rémi (Calvel, current trainer of the training center and future assistant to Danijel Andjelkovic, the successor of Philippe Gardent, NLDR), with whom I am very friend, calls me and does not stop telling me that ‘ at the end of my career I have to come back here. The last time was the right one (smile).
What arguments convinced you?
After a meeting with the Limougeauds leaders, on December 15, I was frankly gone to extend for one or two years. And then on the 17th, Remi called me to tell me about the project. He told me he only saw me at this post. I can say he ruined my Christmas vacation (he laughs). I thought about it for a fortnight and said to myself that it was a golden offer. Philippe (Dallard, the president of Fenix, Editor’s note) confirmed to me that he really wanted me and the prospect of working with “Dani” (Andjelkovic, Editor’s note) and Remi is the assurance of being part of a real human adventure. They are people that I appreciate, the project is coherent, and everyone says that I was made for that: so I said fire!
You train the under-18s of Limoges, but that’s another world that awaits you …
It’s clear ! And that’s why I want to go to the end of my training. Afterwards, we already exchange a lot and I know that we all have the same vision of handball. I will continue the process put in place, in particular concerning the links between the training center and the first team. It’s not always easy to work with friends, and I know that having been a professional player does not guarantee to be a good trainer, but, even if we will not always agree, I am on the other hand certain that we will always act in the interests of the club.
How do you resolve to end your career?
The moment when you say to yourself “you will not play anymore” is not easy, especially when you feel that you still have it in your legs (he smiles). I know lots of people who have experienced it as a little death, but I have the inestimable privilege of choosing the end. For a moment, this is the reason that must prevail and I feel that it is a great opportunity that is offered to me to live my passion differently. Now, I am a competitor, there is still a great end to the season to achieve and I can guarantee you that I will give everything to the end!
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