Yoann Barbet, size boss at the Girondins de Bordeaux

To be captain of Girondins of Bordeaux
and celebrate a victory against a melting South Turn, Yoann Barbet
surely dreamed of it a lot of times since childhood! Today, it has become a reality and even a small habit for the defender. This Saturday, the purebred Girondin, born in Libourne and trained with the Marine et Blanc, once again celebrated for a long time the victory of his family against Annecy (1-0)
after the final whistle at Matmut Atlantique.

“I enjoy, admits the interested party. I have the impression of being a supporter with the Girondins jersey except that I am lucky to be on the ground (smiles). It’s a total kiff and I hope it will last like that.” In addition, the new boss of the Bordeaux locker room has an advantage: it is totally natural, without filter! Far from the clichés of the professional footballer, he always says what he thinks and feels in complete transparency. A freshness that the scapular club badly needed.

“I needed rhythm”

This kiff, Yoann Barbet finally offers it today at 29 years old since he had not had his chance in pro when he left the training center in 2014. Since then, he made a name for himself, notably across the Channel, on the side of Brentford then Queens Park Rangers. Back home (finally) this summer, he had to be patient with the club’s extra-sporting problems and had a complicated start at Saint-Etienne and then against Dijon.

But since then everything has been back to normal for the defender: “As I said at the start when I arrived, I needed rhythm. I went from playing for two years to not playing for four and a half months. So I had to get used to a new championship to tame, a four-man defense, something I had played very little at Queens Park Rangers.”

I had to make my mark. I know my body and I know that the more matches I play, the better I feel. Afterwards, it’s up to me to be good too. But for now, I’m quite satisfied.

Finally, a true leader!

Beyond his sporting qualities, Yoann Barbet is this true leader that the Girondins have been looking for for a long time. His commitment to his favorite club is total! These are often gestures that you don’t necessarily notice in a match, but you have to see how at each stoppage in play, he encourages, replaces, harangues or reprimands his teammates. Without forgetting his work in the submarine with the referee, something that we had not seen for ages in Bordeaux.

He was eagerly awaited on this by his leaders and he responds perfectly in this leadership role: “I speak loudly, but it’s not to yell or point fingers at anyone (smiles). It’s mainly to encourage and say that things are well managed. We have a lot of young people on the pitch and I know that when people tell you that you’re doing something good, it motivates you to do even better. So it’s my role to try to do the best. So far, it’s going pretty well. J hope it lasts.” To last to the point of being able to go back to Ligue 1… Yoann Barbet’s new dream.