In the ambulance, Maxime Crépeau wanted news from his club. His LAFC was at the 127e minute of the MLS final, in overtime. The Quebec goalkeeper had just broken his leg when intervening in front of a Philadelphia Union player. Los Angeles trailed 3-2. One of the great moments in the history of the league was about to be written.
Paul Apodaca, the LAFC’s security chief, is with Crépeau in the vehicle which is about to transport him to the hospital. He informs the player of the course of the match.
“Max was incredibly calm,” says Apodaca, joined virtually by The Press a week later.
At the 128e minute, Gareth Bale, the Welsh superstar, scores an admirable goal with a header to level the score at 3-3. It’s madness in the stadium.
When I told him we had equalized, he was really happy!
Paul Apodaca, LAFC’s head of security
Paul Apodaca makes sure that Cristina, Maxime’s wife, takes her place in the ambulance, and lets the vehicle leave for the hospital. He returns to the stadium to resume his post and watch the penalty shootout.
“I couldn’t do anything else” for Crépeau at that time, he says.
Lying. Because if we are talking to you about Mr. Paul Apodaca today, it is because he was at the center of the events that followed.
Substitute goaltender John McCarthy blocks two of the Union’s three attempts, which also misses a third. LAFC hit three of their four shots. He is crowned champion for the first time in his young history.
“We were all on the ground jumping! recalls Apodaca. I was able to find the family [de Maxime], who had come in large numbers. And since they all know me, we all hugged together! Somehow I managed to FaceTime Max. »
And this is where the story of Paul Apodaca becomes particularly captivating. He appeared in several LAFC publications on social networks, just outside the frame, with in his hands the phone that allowed Maxime Crépeau to attend the moment.
Celebrations, “I’ll tell you, Max didn’t miss much!” “, emphasizes Apodaca. It’s not yet 7 a.m. in Los Angeles when he logs on to the meeting Zoom organized by The Press. Jovial, smiling, he recounts with enthusiasm the events of the previous week.
“I picked up the phone, and made sure everyone saw it. I don’t know who the phone belonged to. I had it on FaceTime from three different devices. It was quite special. »
Apodaca browses with Maxime Crépeau on the field. And ends up crossing paths with John McCarthy. The scene is captured by the club’s cameras. McCarthy repeats, “I fucking love you, Max!” “, while spraying himself with alcoholic drink.
Le téléphone fonctionnait-il toujours après avoir été en contact étroit avec le liquide ?
« Je l’espère ! répond le chef de la sécurité en riant. Il a été assez bien arrosé ! »
Apodaca trouvait important de mettre Crépeau, McCarthy et le troisième gardien Tómas Romero en contact de la sorte.
« Ils sont vraiment très proches l’un de l’autre. Ils sont comme des frères. »
« Une grosse famille »
Pour Marc Dos Santos, entraîneur adjoint du LAFC, la bonté de Paul Apodaca ce jour-là est une autre preuve de l’esprit de « famille » qui règne dans ce club.
Paul, c’est la première personne qu’on voit chaque jour quand on entre dans le centre d’entraînement. Il fait tellement avec les joueurs. Il reçoit les familles dans le building. Il reçoit les agents. On dîne ensemble. C’est plus qu’un club. C’est comme une grosse famille.
Marc Dos Santos, entraîneur adjoint du LAFC
Et Maxime a un lien spécial avec Paul.
« Max, quand il entre dans le centre, il aime beaucoup aller chercher son espresso et s’asseoir près de Paul. Il lui parle tous les matins », raconte le Québécois lors d’un entretien avec La Presse.
Le sentiment est réciproque.
« Max est pas mal toujours le premier arrivé le matin, souligne Apodaca. Ce garçon n’est jamais de mauvaise humeur. […] We make our little “eh, eh” by imitating the Canadian accent. »
“A few months ago, he brought his famous maple syrup. Because at carb day, we eat our pancakes, etc. And the syrup we had, Max called it waste. He brought his own cans. I said to him: “But what is that? !” »
Americans are used to Aunt Jemima, but not Canadian syrup in its foil container.
From cloakroom to catwalk
Paul Apodaca brought Maxime Crépeau with him into the locker room after the game. “I think even Will Ferrell spoke to him! The actor is one of the team’s co-owners.
PHOTO FROM PAUL APODACA’S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
Paul Apodaca with Will Ferrell
The “related task” of the head of security continued the following day. There was the parade in the streets of Los Angeles. Then the gathering in front of the stage. Cristina and the goalkeeper’s entire family made an appearance there. An idea of the club, which insisted that they go up there.
“Max had sent me the text he wanted his wife to read to the fans. There were a few sweet words that we had to remove! Cristina asked me to stay with her, because she was afraid of being emotional. When she was done, she thanked me and told me she had barely been able to get through it. »
No, not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes all they need is good will, benevolence and a good dose of kindness.
“No comparison” with the Lakers and the Kings
Paul Apodaca has been in the business for a while. He “celebrated” two championships with the Lakers. He was on the bench for the Los Angeles Kings when they won their first Stanley Cup in 2012. But he assures that there is “no comparison” with what he has just experienced with LAFC. “This group of owners, this staff, these players, these fans… I wouldn’t trade that for the world. “We ask him how a security guard became the spokesperson, on the chaotic evening of a championship, of a player who had to leave the match in emergency for the hospital. “The whole club is like my children,” he said in response. We have a group of young people, with a few older ones. But even those could be my children. »