TFC: “I no longer felt in my place” says Pantxi Sirieix before Toulouse-Auxerre at the Stadium on Saturday
It was last June 23, a Wednesday afternoon. Pantxi Sirieix, 41, nearly half of whom spent at Toulouse FC (player from 2004 to 2017, then sports coordinator), decided to leave the purple ship. He explains to La Dépêche why and, of course, delivers his prognosis for TFC-AJA which will be played this Saturday, October 16 at 3 p.m.
Pantxi, what happened to you?
I am in the process of thinking about my retraining. On Toulouse. I am probably heading to an insurance firm; otherwise, it will be wealth management advice. I will be finishing by the end of the year.
What have you been doing since June?
Cut, what happiness… I have a little girl of 7 months, my other who is 8 years old; with my company, on a family well enjoyed this summer. Because, in the end, I hadn’t had a real vacation – normal, I would say – since the start of my training at the age of 14 …
By the way, why did you leave?
When the Americans took over, I no longer had the same role at the club as under the chairmanship of Olivier Sadran, where I was part of the Recruitment Unit. Without revealing any secrets, today at TFC it is the reign of data and it is clear that it is a great success. This is another era, I did not really feel in my place; I was no longer in the sport, I had administrative responsibilities, I managed the logistics. I had become a team manager, what. I aspire to something else chosen. I finished the year but I had warned early enough in the season that I was not following.
You’ve separated on good terms, so …
Absoutely. I always get along very well with Damien (Comolli), the president.
Are you missing your foot?
Naturally. The smell of the locker room, the adrenaline rush… This job is exceptional even if the constraints and sacrifices, with wear and tear, take over. For me, I believe the circle has come full circle. And I do not regret my choice four months later.
You will one day come back to the world of football …
Frankly, I don’t know… You should never say never. I’m not old, too …
When you cause the spikes to be hung up in 2017, you will provoke the death of the athlete’s “little one”.
It’s true. However, it is starting to date: four years already. I had time to digest. Then with the year-Covid, I cannot harbor remorse.
Saturday, TFC-AJA: will you be at the Stadium?
Yes Yes. Damien invited me – he had already done it for Bastia; I responded favorably. With great pleasure. These are my two former clubs, well my only two rather.
As for Messi!
(to smile) You must not forget that, often, it is the club that no longer wants you.
In a word, your Téfécé years?
It’s hard… A great human adventure. On the pitch, I knew I wasn’t a great player. I gave the maximum, with my means.
And international Basque?
Yes. Three selections.
We take the time machine back: same Ajaïste question?
Carelessness. You leave the training center, you are with your friends Kapo, Cissé, Mathis, Mexès who was a year younger …
Toulouse vs Auxerre, it’s a shock!
Two very serious contenders for the climb.
A little tip or your heart swings too much …
It’s still 17 years since I left AJA… My blood is purple. Come on, 2-1 for Tef.