video analysis, psychology, multi-sport approach… How Régis Le Bris made Lorient emerge

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A new wind is blowing on Ligue 1. With the arrival of bad weather, Régis Le Bris and his staff are responsible for warming up Lorient and its surroundings. Under his leadership, since June 27, the Merlus have been working miracles: after nine days, they occupy an astonishing third place in Ligue 1 behind the locomotives of Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille, with a record of seven victories. , a draw and a loss. The team can even interfere between the two behemoths in the event of victory in the Breton derby in Brest, Sunday October 9 at 3 p.m. Franceinfo: sport was interested in the successor of Christophe Pélissier in the city of five ports.

“Regis Le Bris has established a game identity, cohesion in the group. It’s no longer the hit of the summer because after nine days, there is no longer chance or luck.” The analysis is signed Thomas Callens, goalkeeper from Lorient (loaned to Annecy this season) who played 15 games under the orders of the technician in N2 last season. The Lorient people were not expected at this level, and their coach, inducted on June 27 to replace Christophe Pélissier, either. Because until then, he had shone far from the lights.

Born in Pont-l’Abbé in Finistère, he had a career as a defender at Stade Rennes (1994-1999) and Laval (1999-2002), before ending up in Belgium, at KSK Ronse (2002-2003) . At the age of 27, he embarked on training: Wasquehal then Rennes (2004-2012), where he obtained a doctorate in physiology and biomechanics, as well as a DU in mental preparation for high-level athletes. In the field, a title of champion of France U18 (2007) and a Gambardella Cup (2008) later, Régis Le Bris left Île-et-Vilaine and was co-opted by Lorient. The start of a great adventure.

He won the championship with the national U17s (2015), before taking charge of the Merlus reserve. With several high-flying seasons in National 2, the hatching of several talented young people (Le Fée, Guendouzi, Meslier, etc.) and the obtaining in May 2022 of the professional football coach’s certificate (BEPF), the coach makes his proofs. A CV and an itinerary that make all the richness of the man.

“For me, he’s a fine tactician, who manages to both train players and adapt to the teams opposite.“says Thomas Callens. “What Régis does is a lot of analysis and understanding of the game”, abounds Jean-Marie David, his deputy in Lorient. His appointment to Lorient corresponds to the emergence of coach-trainers in Ligue 1. Julien Stéphan (Strasbourg) and Franck Haise (Lens) are the most convincing examples, the first having succeeded Régis Le Bris in Rennes in the U19s, while the second preceded him in Lorient.

Jean-Marie David knew him in Rennes in the 1990s, then met him again at the end of his playing career, during a tour of the training centers. The two men like each other and Le Bris quickly sees in David a potential right arm. “I initially declined the proposal” relates the latter“but from the moment Régis presented me with his project, his methodology and his way of working, it matched right away”.

In detail, Thomas Callens explains: “He gives us a lot of responsibility during the video sessions. He emphasizes the fact that the players are actors in his game project”, adds the current goalkeeper from Annecy (Ligue 2).

To this degree of requirement in the preparation of the meetings, is added according to Jean-Marie David, a necessity for Régis Le Bris “to broaden the spectrum and to be able to duplicate what is done at a very high level in other sports”. A multi-sport approach that feeds on swimming, rugby and even cycling. “Régis has the same training as me”, reveals Frédéric Grappe, performance director in the Groupama-FDJ cycling team. “When you are trained on the scientific part of a doctorate, you are obliged to have a way of analyzing and thinking that is different from others”, notes the one who welcomed Le Bris and his staff to his performance research center in Besançon.

When Thomas Callens remembers inspired talks “values ​​of rugby”, Jean-Marie David admits having borrowed from the oval the timing of training, fair play or respect for refereeing. Frédéric Grappe remembers having discussed with Régis Le Bris physical preparation, motivation or even nutrition. “By opening up like this, Régis will progress at a terrible speed”predicts Grappe, not surprised by his first successes in Ligue 1.

This success can also be explained by the relationship of trust that has been established. “In a club, if the main managers are not aligned, you will not be able to create performance”, slice Frédéric Grappe. “The atmosphere is very good”, assures Jean-Marie David, for whom “players and staff are part of one and the same group”.

In his wake, Régis Le Bris not only took the Hakes along. He was also emulated in his family: his younger brother Benoît (a year younger) was also a professional, and his young nephew, Théo, scored his first goal with Lorient against Lille (2-1).

The technician’s next objective is now to confirm, and deal with the fatigue.“The management of the organizations is the daily work of the staff, in the exchanges with the players and the analysis of the matches” explains Jean-Marie David, referring to a “marathon championship”. If it is difficult to imagine Lorient maintaining its infernal pace, the objective of maintaining it today seems to lack ambition. With 22 points already in nine days, the record for points scored by the Hakes in the top flight, 58 in 2009-2010, must be in the lead of Régis Le Bris and his group.


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