Alexis Gaudreault is only 17 years old, but he will already live a “unique experience” this Sunday.
Under the jersey of the Union Lorraine de Plantières, an amateur club from Metz playing in the French eighth division, the young Quebecer will tread the lawn of an enclosure of nearly 30,000 places. The context: Plantières faces second division club AS Nancy in a seventh round match of the Coupe de France. This clash is the result of a draw – Nancy is making her debut in the competition.
The match, which is expected to attract around 3,000 spectators according to comments from Plantières coach Richard Pagnat, reported by Franceinfo, will be broadcast on TV.
“It’s a great opportunity to get noticed,” explains the young Quebec defender, joined after his classes on Friday.
“But above all, when you think of the team, you want to win. ”
Let’s take a step back. Alexis Gaudreault left the Montreal family nest in August 2020, at the age of 16. He was going to join the international team of FC Metz, in eastern France.
Because for him, the dream of playing professional soccer necessarily passed through Europe. But a FIFA rule prevents clubs from playing overseas minors.
You should know that for non-European players, it’s very complicated to join a team in Europe. We did our research, we looked at teams. We found FC Metz. When I saw that Samuel Piette had been to this academy, it intrigued me.
Alexis Gaudreault
Gaudreault trains and plays friendly matches with the international team of FC Metz, therefore, in the company of players from Africa and America, in particular.
“We play matches against top-level teams that allow us to test ourselves and get noticed, eventually. ”
But this Sunday, it is with UL Plantières that Gaudreault will put his crampons on the lawn of the Saint-Symphorien stadium, usually used by FC Metz.
His father Mathieu, joined in Montreal before he flew to France on Friday, explains.
“I work there and I live in Strasbourg this year, so he can have his license. But FC Metz can not offer [en vertu des règles de la FIFA]. So he plays exhibition matches against the Luxembourg national team, against Belgium, against Dijon, against Strasbourg. With his license, he evolves with Plantières to play matches. He does two, three games a weekend with different levels. It allows him to play against adults. ”
Because the word “wait” is not part of the vocabulary of the young defender. Talk to his father.
He started playing in Europe at a very young age. He did a one-week internship at Clairefontaine. He would go to tournaments all over the place with different teams. That was really his goal.
Mathieu Gaudreault, father of Alexis
Clairefontaine, all the same, who saw pass the Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Kylian Mbappé of this world.
“It’s a magical place,” he recalls. I have pictures of him with the World Cup! He really always had Europe in mind, all the time. ”
Before his adventure on the other side of the Atlantic, Alexis Gaudreault was associated with the Saint-Laurent Soccer Club. Mathieu Gaudreault praises his “extremely solid development infrastructure”.
“He went there and he really started to improve,” he recalls.
“After a Canadian championship game, he came to see me as he left the field and said: ‘It’s okay, I’m leaving for Europe!’ I said to him: “Where in Europe? I don’t mind, but we still have to find
clubs. ” ”
Eventually appeared the option of FC Metz.
“His mother was a little reluctant and that’s normal,” explains his father. When we made the decision, he was only 15 years old. He turned 16 in the meantime, but it was a bit young. It’s your little guy who leaves at 6000 km. It’s not necessarily fun. But that’s what he wanted to do. It was out of the question for us to say no. He’s an extremely serious boy. We had the sine qua non condition that he was not going to quit school. There, he is doing his final [l’équivalent de la 2e année de cégep]. No matter what happens, he’ll be able to enter college next year. ”
And so, how is it going for Alexis in France?
“I’m happy,” he says happily on the phone. Last year it got more complicated with COVID, for games and everything. This year, everything is going well, we are playing our matches, we are doing good performances. I feel like I’m making progress.
My goal has always been to be in Europe. I always found it a bit too closed [au Québec] For the young.
Alexis Gaudreault
Closed in what direction?
“In Europe there are a lot more opportunities and clubs. For me it was a better way to be seen. ”
“He works like a madman”
Alexis Gaudreault says it himself. “Basically, I’m not a talented player. I am a working gamer. This is what allowed me to rise. ”
His father adds more.
He’s never been the most talented guy on the pitch. […] He has a talent, but he works like a madman. He went to academies, he did internships, he asked for more all the time.
Mathieu Gaudreault
“When he was 13 years old, when he had a free evening, he would go to the park to play against the adults, against the older ones, to be beaten. ”
Work, therefore. And passion.
“Since I was little, I’ve always been passionate about soccer,” says Alexis. I have always wanted to have a career. ”
This opportunity against Nancy therefore becomes a first real test.
“It’s a first to play against a pro team, so it will be a unique opportunity to experience. Especially that we will play in the stadium of the senior team of FC Metz, the stadium that we watch every weekend when the first team plays. It will be special for us. ”
Alexis also says he is willing to return to North America one day, if the door to a professional contract opens.
But his father doesn’t want to put pressure on him.
“I just want him to do whatever he wants. I just want it to be good. If it goes through soccer, so much the better. If it goes through studies, so much the better. I’m not a daddy with cheerleader pom poms in my hands. I accompany him where he wants to go. ”