Vincent Collet, the historic coach of the France team, surrenders – Libération

2024-09-09 09:53:23

The man who was the coach of the Blues for fifteen years is leaving his position on Monday, September 9, after a final medal at the Paris Olympic Games, silver against the United States and a well-filled tournament cabinet.

It was a (big) page in French basketball that changed. The departure of Blues coach Vincent Collet was made official by the French Basketball Association on Monday, September 9, after a fifteen-year tenure ended with a new medal, silver won at the Paris Olympic Games.

“Actually, I finished,” said the 61-year-old Norman after the defeat in the final of the Olympic Games against the United States on August 10 (98-87), he did not completely close the door to an extension as he reached the end of his contract. “We have decided by agreement with Vincent that he will no longer be the coach of the French national team.” However, the president of the French Federation (FFBB) Jean-Pierre Siutat said during a press conference organized in Paris.

Vincent Collet has been a special adviser to the National Technical Directorate of the FFBB, the latter announced. He will be responsible for his own transportation “ideology in the field of technical training of players and coaches”, said the national science director, Alain Contensoux.

Vincent Collet left his position as coach with, by far, the best track record at the head of the Blues, which he took over in 2009 replacing Michel Gomez: eight trophies, including the title (Euro-2013), only they. history, taken from Spain of Pau Gasol generation, which was so often their executioner. The French team has won as many medals in the fifteen years with Collet as in more than 80 years before, and the former fullback has taken eight of the ten podiums since 2000.

With a disappointing end in Bercy, where he stayed against the Americans three years ago in Tokyo (82-87), less than a year after he left the first round of the World Cup, in Jakarta. One of the rare times where the Blues lost under Collet’s command, as they were eliminated three times before the final stage of a competition in fifteen years.

“Knowledge Masterclass”

The 2024 Olympics, however, got off to a bad start, starting with a series of four defeats in preparation before a chaotic group stage, ending with a defeat against Germany (85-71). But the Blues then changed with the final phase, a change which owed a lot to Collet, according to the players.

Evan Fournier now underlines the two “Masterclass Techniques” concocted by the coach in the quarter-final against Canada (82-73) then in the semi-final against the Germans (73-69), as well as the “people talk” who said to them before the decisive match against the North Americans. “Vincent, you have this gift of lifting the team, you did it again this evening. It was your victory tonight, for him and your staff, clearly”has supported Nicolas Batum after this match. The leaders then, after the final, pay tribute to the “The best French teacher in history”Passionate about basketball to the point of obsession, hard worker with insomniac tendencies.

We were born as, coquetry of Fate, in Sainte-Adresse (Seine-Maritime), that will be the architect of the most beautiful and long book in the history of the Blues.