“I loved the dedication of a Jérémy Toulalan”
To display the systematic presence of many Monegasque supporters in outdoor parks, asmonaco.com is continuing its series dedicated to supporting the Red and White. On the occasion of this ninth episode, discover Ismaïla, a big fan of the Club in the 93 in Romainville.
He is one of those children of the 2004 generation. When the men of Didier Deschamps made hundreds of games want to follow the exploits of AS Monaco, this team with the so special red and white jersey.
A derby like no other
Born in 1996, Ismaïla, a young 25-year-old high school supervisor, grew up with the Principality’s club in his blood, bathed in it by his junior coach. Living in Romanville in the 93, not far from the Bauer stadium, where Red Star FC plays, he will experience his derby on Sunday at home, at home, in his department of birth. Meeting with a madman of the Diagonal, who would not miss for anything in the world a match of his club of heart.
Hello Ismaïla. To begin with, as with every issue of Partout toujours, tell us how your love for AS Monaco was born …
My history with the club started after the epic of 2003-2004, because as I am of the 1996 generation, I started to become aware of the matches that I watch when I was 8-9 years old. It was this team that made me fall in, with the Rothens, Giuly and Morientes in particular. At that time, I was in school, and you had to choose a club. Around me it was often the PSG, Marseille or Auxerre who were successful, with the famous Playstation jersey. But I didn’t want to be like everyone else, so I chose Monaco. And I do not regret this choice at all.
Did anyone in particular encourage you to follow this club rather than another?
My youngest coach at the time, Yacine, with whom I am still very close today, was himself for AS Monaco. So we watched games together, and the mayonnaise took straight. He’s still a big brother to me, and we continue to watch games together. And even if we’re not together, let’s talk about it on Snapchat. What is Monaco, it is getting closer. At the time he was already talking to me about the 90s and about players he had the chance to see play, like Youssouf Fofana.
🎦 When the Youssouf Fofana of 1988 met the @ fofana22_ of 2020, if there is one chosen that has not changed, it is 𝒍𝒂 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒆 🔴⚪️
– AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) December 15, 2020
I was marked by Jérôme Rothen and his particularity of wearing bandages to hide his earrings (smile). We were big fans of the “stylish” players back then, and he was. In addition he was left-handed like me so it took direct.
Supporter of AS Monaco
Wasn’t it too complicated for you to take care of at school?
Especially when you live here in the Parisian suburbs! Logic dictates that we are for Paris Saint-Germain. So when you are little, in the playground, and you have to explain that you are a supporter of AS Monaco, it is not easy. So I replied that I wanted to have my own club, that there was a family spirit, and I often said: “You cannot understand! (Laughs). It is only between us that we can understand why we were directed to this club rather than another.
Who are the first players who marked you?
I was marked by Jérôme Rothen and his particularity of wearing bandages to hide his earrings (smile). We were huge fans of “stylish” players back then, and he was. In addition he was left-handed like me so it took direct. Well, I was a central defender. So I also really liked the Squillaci, Givet, Modesto, Rodriguez… They rocked my childhood!
If you had to bring out a match from this period …
Real Madrid! It was fabulous. I had never seen so many good players on the same pitch. There had been the World Cup just before, but I wasn’t really aware of what I’m watching yet. But this Monaco – Real Madrid was the apotheosis. And that confirmed to me my willingness to support this club.
Whether we were in National or even in CFA at the time, that wouldn’t have bothered me, because he was the one I had chosen. It’s a mentality that we have here in 93. I don’t know why, but that’s how it is. (…) Yet it is true that we had, I even remember having made trips to Ligue 2, to the MMArena at Le Mans, in Tours.
Supporter of AS Monaco
How did you maintain this love behind, when there were difficult years?
When you support a club, the fundamental principle for me is loyalty! Whether we were in National or even in CFA at the time, that wouldn’t have bothered me, because he was the one I had chosen. It’s a mentality that we have here in 93. I don’t know why, but that’s how it is. Once you are attached to something, it is for life and you don’t talk about it anymore. Yet it is true that we suffered, I even remember having traveled to Ligue 2, to the MMArena in Le Mans, in Tours. It was hard, but we were there!
Especially since even when things were going badly, there were always great players in Monaco!
It’s in the DNA of the club! I am sure that 50% of the players in the world are ready to come and play here. The more time passed, the more we had great players in our squad, up to Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and others. It’s true that this was an additional argument, because sometimes we didn’t have a great team, but there were still some big names.
Exactly, what do you keep in memory of more recent years?
We have already succeeded in making the Monegasque supporters dream and even the whole of France, and that is what is most important. As AS Monaco is not a hated club, as OL can be, we managed to convey certain emotions by beating Arsenal for example. Then during the epic in 2017, which we will still remember in 100 years I think. And from that generation, we can come up with a name: Kylian Mbappé.
What do you think is so special about him?
I am already very, very proud that he has been trained at home in Monaco. In addition, he comes from Bondy in the Paris region, it is right next to us. I also had the opportunity to go and play there as a youngster, where his father was already training. So that is all the more emotional value, because he is a child from our region. I was also parked against PSG last weekend, after working around the stadium.
Recently, there is Gelson Martins who gave me his jersey twice. I sometimes discuss with Benoît Badiashile, and I have common friends with Youssouf Fofana.
Supporter of AS Monaco
Have you ever had the opportunity to come to the Stade Louis-II for once?
Yes, I have been here at least thirty times. Even all alone sometimes (laughs)! It’s love, I love this club. For me, each match at Louis-II is special, because Monaco is a place that fascinates me. There is one choice that marks me, it is the accessibility of the players. Since I came, I have had the opportunity to meet several. Keita Baldé in particular. Recently, there is Gelson Martins who gave me his jersey twice. I sometimes discuss with Benoît Badiashile, and I have common friends with Youssouf Fofana. I had to come to the Stade Louis-II to realize how much of a family club it is.
One day I came to see a match in Weighing, and when I left I ran into Djibril Sidibé at the gas station at the exit of the stadium. (…) He had also promised to give me his jersey, which he did afterwards. You only see that in Monaco, once again. People cannot understand!
Supporter of AS Monaco
This closeness to the players you support is a real feature of the Club …
The famous Parking P2 (he smiles)! This place where you easily meet players is unique. I recently spoke about it with Xavier Domergue, who comments on the matches for M6, and who also really likes coming to Monaco. One day I came to see a match in Weighing, and when I left I ran into Djibril Sidibé at the gas station at the exit of the stadium. We took the opportunity to discuss, it was incredible to meet him like that. He had also promised to give me his jersey, which he did afterwards. You only see that in Monaco, once again. People cannot understand!
Do you have any particular memories in the yard as well?
I remember in particular the trip we made to Angers two years ago, with one but the head of Islam Slimani in the last minutes. I have never seen the yard celebrate one but like this. We really felt with the players, it was crazy! I think there are still pictures from that moment, it was amazing. There is also the match in Rennes, when we announced the title of champion of France in 2017. With all the celebrations, the fireworks, it was crazy.
You told us about Kylian Mbappé previously. Which other players did you like?
It might sound weird, but I loved the dedication of a guy like Jérémy Toulalan. With the captain’s armband, he didn’t look like much, but he left everything on the pitch, and that was something admirable about him. He had three lungs, let out a rant when needed, and you could tell he was a leader who managed to motivate the troops. And that is very important.
The Red Star is a team that is close to our hearts here, like Paris FC, because they are the first clubs in the Paris suburbs that have managed to have professional status, other than PSG. As young people, we dreamed of being able to play PFC or Red Star, in order to hope to break through one day.
Supporter of AS Monaco
To return to the news, this Sunday there is this Coupe de France match against the Red Star. What does that mean to you?
I am already very happy to welcome AS Monaco to my home. Because Monaco has already welcomed me to his home in the Principality. It is therefore a real pleasure. Then I hope to buy myself one of the 140 parking spaces made available, and which are given priority to Ultras. The Red Star is a team that is close to our hearts here, like Paris FC, because they are the first clubs in the Paris suburbs that have managed to have professional status, other than PSG. As young people, we dreamed of being able to play PFC or Red Star, in order to hope to break through one day. This is one of the good popular clubs in Île-de-France. Le 93 knows how to be welcoming in addition, despite what we can hear! There is a mix between tension and passion which makes a good mix in the end here (smile).