“I saw myself spending my entire career at AS Monaco”
Before the meeting between AS Monaco and the Stade de Reims, this Sunday (1 p.m.), asmonaco.com went to hear from Frédéric Bulot, trained at the Academy and former player of the Champagne club. Memories.
He only wore the AS Monaco jersey 12 times as a professional, but many still remember his talent with the ball. Arrived at the Academy in 2005, Frédéric Bulot was a French international in all youth categories, before leaving the Club in 2011. Before the meeting between the Red and Whites and the Stade de Reims, where he also played, asmonaco .com went to hear from him to discuss with him his memories on the Rock and his many experiences abroad. Maintenance.
I was aware of my qualities but it went even better than I had hoped, because I was international in all categories, from U16 to Espoirs. So I was at the top of what I wanted to do and AS Monaco allowed me to develop positively. It was really perfect.
Former AS Monaco midfielder
Hi Frederic. To begin, tell us about your arrival at the AS Monaco Academy…
Everything happened very early. Arnold Catalano and Luc Cerrajero had come to supervise me, so one or two years before I entered the Châteauroux pre-training center I already knew about AS Monaco’s interest and I had signed my pre-contract. About ten professional clubs were involved, including Rennes, but with my family we quickly decided on Monaco.
What did AS Monaco create for you at that time?
Already, just for the living environment it was exceptional. I had never been to the Côte d’Azur and it had really marked me. And then at the football level, it was already a very big club, recognized by everyone. I was especially provided by the relationship that Arnold Catalano had with my family. We were very close and we needed that to let me go so far at that age. It was reassuring for my family and for me. I was aware of my qualities but it went even better than I had hoped, because I was international in all categories, from U16 to Espoirs. So I was at the top of what I wanted to do and AS Monaco allowed me to develop positively. It was really perfect.
You have also retained a very fine generation, with in particular Nicolas Nkoulou, Cédric Mongongu, Yohann Thuram…
Yes, we were French CFA champions. I’m from 1990, so I was the youngest, but it was above all the 1989 generation that was exceptional. They were all international from their respective countries. We are always in contact because, even if everyone has their trajectory, we meet during certain matches. It’s always nice to know everyone’s background and that’s where we see that work without talent isn’t worth much, but conversely the hardest workers often become the lazy ones who have talent.
It was Guy Lacombe who joined you in the pro squad and then launched you in Ligue 1. How was he with you?
He was a super rigorous coach, very demanding, so to manage to pass from the reserve to the professional group you had to be well and have qualities of abnegation and self-transcendence. He was rather old school and there were a lot of confirmed players in the squad, like Eidur Gudjohnsen, or even Nenê who played in my position. But I played my first match in Ligue 1 against Lyon, which shows that he gave me a lot of confidence and so I wanted to give him back because I was very grateful.
Bem-vindo 𝐍𝐄𝐍Ê! 🔴⚪
Left foot. Free kick. 👀@Nene10, simply. 👌
⚽ 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 – 9/18 ✨ pic.twitter.com/iSCl4iU0kg
– AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 10, 2020
Precisely, that first match against OL must remain one of the greatest memories of your career…
It scores because you do your first steps in the professional world and that from that moment many things change: visibility, market value, statistics… But above all, it’s a real pride for the family. You think back to all the work you’ve done for years to get to this exact moment. It is the culmination of a lot of effort and sacrifice, even if football remains a passion and making it a profession is an opportunity.
When I was in a training center, I never imagined myself leaving AS Monaco one day, I saw myself doing my whole career there, but it finally happened… In the end, I grew up elsewhere and the Club quickly returned to Ligue 1.
Former AS Monaco midfielder
At the end of this 2010-2011 season, the Club unfortunately went down to Ligue 2 and you signed for Caen. Why did you make this choice?
I leave because there is the descent, that I am an international French Espoirs and that this status imposes requirements, including that of evolving at the best level. I was at the end of my contract in Monaco and I was offered interesting things in Ligue 1. Everyone understood that and I have no regrets. The people who supervised me, like Frédéric Barilaro, know that I always gave the maximum. When I was in a training center, I never imagined myself leaving AS Monaco one day, I saw myself doing my whole career there, but it finally happened… In the end, I grew up elsewhere and the Club quickly returned to Ligue 1.
Who is the best player you played with in Monaco?
I didn’t play with him but he was at the Club when I was at the Academy, so I would still say Yaya Touré. He had such an ability to change the course of a match, when he wanted to take things on his own. Moreover, the rest of his career showed it because he was one of the best players in the world.
🤯 Crazy pictures of @YayaToureit’s #ASMonaco days! One of the best to do it 🔥🔥🔥
𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙣 🥳 pic.twitter.com/AKmz8N84OD
– AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) May 13, 2021
Then you traveled a lot and you notably played in Japan, Malaysia and Cyprus. Was it a desire to discover other countries and other cultures?
I admit that some aspects of football disappointed me a little. I was put some barriers but I followed my path. When I left for Asia, I didn’t really want to play there, but it was much easier for the continuity of my life. And frankly, I was pleasantly surprised. Japan is another world but also another football, very pleasant to play, very technical. We see phases of possession that we don’t have in Europe and you really have to be on the pitch to believe it. You can’t take the ball from them! Malaysia was really different, it was more “relaxing”. The level is lower but on the other hand you have an incredible quality of life, with more advantages when you are a foreign player.
And now, at 31, what are you doing?
I sincerely thought I would end my career in Asia, but when the Covid hit I preferred to return to Europe because otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to see my family and loved ones for many months. It’s no life to be alone. Football is part of my life, but it’s not my whole life. So I quickly found a challenge in Cyprus, at the Doxa Katokopias. I signed there for a year and a half but finally, with my president, on a preferred termination of my contract amicably because following my injury contracted in Reims I was in a lot of pain and I no longer took much pleasure. The damage to my health is irreversible and it’s a vicious circle, so I preferred to be closer to my family. But I can say that I am proud of my journey and that I have no regrets.