“I had a special relationship with Arsène Wenger”
They make you experience the matches as if you were there. During the end of the year celebrations, asmonaco.com offers you a series of interviews with the great witnesses of the media, who have vivid memories with the Red and White. Today, meeting with Vincent Duluc.
He is a legend of the profession! One of the most beautiful “feathers” in the profession. Freshly elected president of the UJSF (the Union of Sports Journalists of France), Vincent Duluc writing in everyday sports for almost 30 years (February 1995). Originally from Bourg-en-Bresse, he began his career with the regional daily Le Progrès in 1979. Since then, he has had 11 European football championships and 10 World Cups. Always so passionate about this round ball, but a great lover of sport in general, he agreed to tell us his fondest memories with AS Monaco. With the simplicity and kindness that characterize it. Interview.
Hello Vincent. To begin with, when do you go back to your earliest memories with AS Monaco?
I was born in 1962. So at the time, I was reading in Foot Magazine, But or L’Équipe, the heyday of Monaco by Lucien Leduc, Henri Biancheri, Michel Hidalgo and especially Théo (Théodore Szkudlapski). The press of the time liked him very much, and kept almost a nostalgia for the period when he played. I never saw him personally, but I did read the admiration journalists had for him. Then the first modern memory is the Monaco of Delio Onnis in the 70s. I remember very well the final of the Coupe de France against Saint-Etienne, it was in 1974.
A sacred period for the Club, with in particular the rise in the elite and the title of champion in 1978 in the wake …
Yes, especially since it had only been seen once, with the Greens precisely, who had climbed in 1963 and had won the title in the first division in 1964. But there it was quite impressive, especially since ‘being of Bresse origin, there were two players from this Monegasque team who were from my region: Yves Chauveau and George Prost. It was one more reason for me to follow AS Monaco from a distance. The last being that my great-grandmother had a house in Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat and that I came every year at Easter and Christmas.
Historically, big stars have also put their bags in the Principality. Did one of them particularly impress you?
Obviously. When Ralf Edström arrived at AS Monaco (in 1981), I said to myself: “Oh yes, Ralf Edström! “. He was playing for PSV Eindhoven and the Swedish national team, it was no small feat. Any foreigner who landed in Monaco, it had the same effect on me. I also remember the Swiss Umberto Barberis (1980-1983).
Isn’t it this tradition of attracting the best, which has made AS Monaco such a popular club all over France?
I think that’s part of the theory actually. But the other reason is the game played. One might think that a club which is not followed very much is not obliged to seduce, but there is a tradition of the beautiful game, which made the fame of AS Monaco. In the Arsène Wenger years, for example, there was a certain idea of the game. And we found that in three out of four coaches at this club. There is also the fact that Monaco has always played the game in the European Cup. And besides, if it is obvious that ASM sells newspapers less than PSG, Marseille or Lyon, no one hates this team. It is not a divisive club. And everyone can rejoice in a good course for the Monegasques, where a Marseillais will never want to see Paris win. There is a real empathy towards this team, and a popular base which is quite large around Monaco.
What are the major European dates from elsewhere that you keep in mind?
There is this Cup final against Bremen in 1992, even if it was played in too special circumstances (the drama of Furiani had occurred the day before). It didn’t really happen after all. There is a Champions League semi-final two years later, in 1994 against AC Milan. And also the UEFA Cup semi-final against Sampdoria Genoa in 1990. I still see Gianluca Vialli, Attilio Lombardo and Roberto Mancini in this great Samp ‘team.
The other draw that there was in the late 80s – early 90s in Monaco was the match day press meal at the L’Argentin brasserie at Loews. (…) Thierry Roland walked past the lobster buffet, and said: “Well, we’re not in the Casino cafeteria, I can tell you my little Duluc!”
Journalist for the sports daily L’Équipe
Matches with a special atmosphere …
Of course. The other draw that there was in the late 80s – early 90s in Monaco was the match day press meal at the L’Argentin brasserie at Loews. There were all the journalists, Jean-Michel Larqué, Thierry Roland… Great moments, which no longer exist at all, but which created an atmosphere between the club and the press which was really interesting. For the club it was about public relations, but for us it was above all about human relations. These European meals have existed a lot in Nantes and Monaco. This is something that I really chose to nostalgia for. Thierry Roland in front of the lobster buffet, and said: “Well, we’re not in the Casino cafeteria, I can tell you my little Duluc!” “.
Do you share the observation that there is a particular proximity between the players in Monaco?
I have never followed the club on a daily basis or over a season for L’Équipe. But I remember making a few trips, especially for an interview with Eric Abidal, or a few reports in La Turbie. This proximity is already present at the Stade Louis-II. It’s a rare stadium, even if the rules change today, where you can see everyone before the game on this athletics track. We saw the players pass at the exit of the stairs. Indeed there is this paradox between the idea that people have of Monaco in general, and the proximity that there can be with the players of the club.
I was in the locker room in Rotterdam after qualifying for the Cup semi-final against Feyenoord e, 1992. (…) There was an incredible atmosphere. And so after the match you can go to the locker room and do who you want in an interview. I had done Claude Puel.
Journalist for the sports daily L’Équipe
Do you have memories of special moments with certain players?
I was in the locker room in Rotterdam after qualifying for the Cup semi-final against Feyenoord. I was at the game for the regional daily Le Progrès, and at the time you went into the locker room. I remember perfectly that match which took place in the spring of 1992, since before the match they had bombarded with music in the stadium, the supporters were like crazy. They had passed U2’s “One” at least five times. There was an incredible atmosphere. And so after the match you can go to the locker room and do who you want in an interview. I had done Claude Puel. Whereas at the time I was 29 years old, nobody knew me, but there was no difference between those who paid or not, the beneficiaries… Even if we were much less numerous to cover the matches , it is true.
And with coaches?
I had a special relationship with Arsène Wenger. When I was a very young journalist, he was called into his office, and he would answer. If we had prepared our questions well and they were smart, we had a fantastic hour on the phone with him. I may not be very objective because I always loved chatting with him. I have been back to Arsenal many times. We sometimes made our way with him in his office. I have a bit of nostalgia for the Wenger years, because I liked him a lot at Arsenal, which have been my favorite club in England since 1972, but also in Monaco. I really like his team and his players at the time. He had a knack for finding great talent, the right network and, above all, patience. He also had the intelligence to know what he could get from a player and how he was going to get it. A mixture of determination and calm which is impressive with him.
He is part of the long list of great coaches who have officiated at the club …
I liked Gérard Banide a lot too. I was a young journalist at the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 and I went to see the training of the France team, because it was he who animated them. They were exciting sessions, with stuff I had never seen before. I have met him since, moreover he is now more of a pétanque player than in football. He even wrote a very interesting book about it. He is a fascinating person. We also often forget that it was Monaco that launched Didier Deschamps’ coaching career. And then we didn’t talk about it, but Jean Tigana’s Monaco game… What a team! Sabri Lamouchi, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, it was a magnificent team. Here is another French coach who was important.
As a viewer or spectator, I really liked Glenn Hoddle. He was a great soloist, doing pretty much whatever he wanted with the ball. I liked Dominique Bijotat too, in the same style of a somewhat elegant midfielder who was a good technician.
Journalist for the sports daily L’Équipe
Did some players mark you more than others?
(Thinks) As a viewer or spectator, I really liked Glenn Hoddle. He was a great soloist, doing pretty much whatever he wanted with the ball. I liked Dominique Bijotat too, in the same style of a somewhat elegant midfielder who was a good technician. There are a lot of good players at AS Monaco. Rui Barros was more in the Ludovic Giuly accelerator register. When we make the list of all the huge stars that there have been here in the Principality, it is something. The paradox is almost to have known air holes between these generations. I was at the downhill match in 2011, when Claude Puel beat ASM with Lyon and sent his long-standing club to Ligue 2. But there is another thing chosen that binds us to Monaco, it is the jersey.
What is so special about it?
The fact that the jersey has hardly ever changed and keeps this identity forever, means that we are also attached to this club. La Diagonale designed by Princess Grace is in keeping with the mythology of the place and the history of the club at the same time.
Finally, if we had to remove an exploit from the history of AS Monaco, which would you choose?
I haven’t talked about it in my best memories, but I was in both games against Manchester City in 2017, both out and back. It was a fantastic double confrontation. Even Arsenal in 2015 at the Emirates. But if I had to keep just one it would be Real Madrid in 2004. It’s not very original, but I think it’s the biggest achievement. I remember Chelsea too, where there was Claude Makélélé in the midfield, who had faked a foul in the penalty area. The next day, the English press had headlined: “It’s still weird that a guy nicknamed ‘three legs’, can’t stand up.” I found it very funny (he smiles).