“Football is above all collective, it’s a shame to have a tendency to individualize this sport”

Every day, a personality invites itself into the world of Élodie Suigo. Friday December 15, 2023: former international footballer, Dominique Rocheteau. He has just published an autobiography “Foot sentimental” with Editions du Cherche-Midi.

When we mention the name of Dominique Rocheteau, only positive memories come back to us. He remained this French international footballer, the “green angel” associated with AS Saint-Étienne, then moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse Football Club. He was also president of the ethics committee of the French Football Federation between 2002 and 2012 and sporting director of the Saint-Étienne club, which allowed him to be champion of France in 1974, 1975 and 1976. He has just publish an autobiography, Sentimental footballpublished by Cherche-Midi.

franceinfo: You reached the final of the European Cup of Champion Clubs and, in 1980, you were champion of France. To date, you are PSG’s sixth top scorer. It’s funny because we don’t necessarily know.

Dominique Rocheteau: Yes, it’s true. For me, it’s the image of Saint-Étienne, the image of the “green angel” that sticks to my skin, even though I spent seven years at PSG. When I left, I had absolutely no idea that I had scored 100 goals because it was different at the time. We weren’t playing for statistics. And that’s what I blame a little now. The players and the media also focus on statistics, on the number of goals scored, on the prize list and for me, football is above all collective. There, we tend to individualize this sport. It’s a shame.

You say something very important, which is that before you were a player, your family taught you that you were fans first.

I played football for fun reasons. For me, it was a game. That’s why I always focused on the game and why I always liked teams who played a beautiful game, collective play. There was a little ideological side too, that’s why I called my book Sentimental football. There is also the spirit of the game. I don’t like to compare too much, but we see the difference between rugby and football. I am a supporter of La Rochelle, because it is my region, and when I have the choice between a La Rochelle match and a professional football match, I often choose rugby because I like the state of spirit that there is in this sport. I think they have evolved well.

“In rugby, there are rules which protect the spirit of the sport and that is why I sound the alarm a little in relation to football because it is always more money, always more … And it breaks things, it breaks the spirit of this sport.”

Dominique Rocheteau

at franceinfo

There are matches that meant more to you than others, notably the semi-final played in Seville against the Federal Republic of Germany, which remained etched in your memory. For what ?

Engraved in the memory of the players and the supporters, because it was quite an epic match, quite fabulous. We went through all the feelings. Euphoria when we were leading 3-1, a little fear, apprehension when Germany came back to 3-3 and then, after enormous stress, when there was the penalty shootout. I think we had the best team of my generation there. We were called a bit of European Brazil… But we were perhaps a team that was a little too romantic, not realistic enough. We played, we played, we led 3-1 and we continued to play, perhaps we should have been more realistic.

You are talking about Aimé Jacquet and the 1998 World Cup, but also that of 2018, led this time by Didier Deschamps. And you put at the heart of this work the importance of leaders. You say that Didier Deschamps, precisely, knew how to be part of this longevity.

It’s true that Didier Deschamps was at a good school with Aimé Jacquet, whom I knew when I was very young. It was he who brought me a lot, with a speech full of humility, this passion. He’s someone I really like.

“Didier Deschamps is a continuation of Aimé Jacquet.”

Dominique Rocheteau

at franceinfo

You talk about one thing in this book, and that is the importance of wearing the France team jersey. Do you remember the first time you put it on?

Yes, to my first selection with Ștefan Kovács. We were two young players. He was Romanian and for him, the French team, the rooster, it was very important. They made us kiss the rooster before the match in the locker room in front of all the players. It was a small gesture that stood out to me.

Euro 1984 remains your best moment or not?

Not exactly ! It’s the best moment for the whole team, for the players. We were European champions, I was super happy. But I, somewhere, was a little sad.

“I completely missed out on Euro 1984. I didn’t play in all the matches, I didn’t play in the final, I saw it from the sidelines and it wasn’t the same. “

Dominique Rocheteau

at franceinfo

I shouldn’t say that because it’s above all collective, but during all the World Cups, it’s true that I played. What mattered was also playing. We are always a little disappointed to be a substitute. Of course, we support the team, our teammates, but it’s not the same thing.

What place has football occupied and will have occupied in your life?

Football is my whole life, of course! But not only that… Fortunately! I made an ad in which I said: “There’s more to life than football” and it’s true, there’s more than just football in life.

Watch this interview on video: