— Now that enough time has passed to talk about it differently, can you tell us about the accident when you were flying to Bastia? — It’s been 22 years. I was a player, I was at Rodez, and we were flying on the president’s plane. During the flight, I was in front of the door, and it opened. Then, it was a very complicated situation. I was paralyzed and spent almost a year learning to walk again. Many things happened; I had to stop my professional football career, but that also gave me the opportunity to start coaching earlier. That’s life; we have to look forward. — So, there were physical and not just psychological consequences. Because Patrick was actually outside the plane, right? — Yes, physical, physical. The seatbelt held me, prevented me from falling. We were over the sea, at 10,000 feet, then we descended to 6,000… Then, the door had also remained under the plane, and the pilot requested firefighters for the landing because there was a fire. Well, it was a very complicated situation, but it is part of my life. It’s a reality. For 13 years, I didn’t travel by plane, but today everything is fine, thank God. — Do you travel again? — Yes, I have to. Only Bergkamp wouldn’t take the plane. I can’t afford not to do it today. — Besides that opening to start thinking a bit more like a coach earlier, did the accident shape you in terms of perseverance, or perhaps a new opportunity? Sometimes, people find even stronger reasons to prove something… — I had no other solution. I often say that football is oxygen for me, and I only know how to do this. My playing career ended earlier than expected, but I had to stay in football, and I wanted to be a coach because when I was a player, I was also very aggressive, passionate, I liked being the captain, I liked managing many things… It was an opportunity. Today, I have two wonderful children, a wife, I’m at peace, and everything is fine. — How long did you play after the accident? You were out for a year, right? — Yes, and then I only played at the amateur level, in the fifth and sixth divisions. I was no longer the player I had been, with the same speed… I was different; I played more for pleasure.
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