“In Monaco, the magic quickly succeeded”
Monegasque for three seasons in the early 80s, the former midfielder was in the Principality for the 102nd derby against OGC Nice. As the 40th anniversary of the 1982 French championship title draws closer, Switzerland is looking back on its memories in Rouge et Blanc.
When he arrived at AS Monaco in 1980, Umberto Barberis had just been voted best player in the Swiss championship twice in a row, he was the leader of Servette FC. In the Principality, he will, for three seasons, confirm the hopes placed in him by President Jean-Louis Campora. A little over a hundred games, 37 goals including that of the 1982 title, in addition to two trophies for best foreign player in the French championship: the Swiss left their mark, and AS Monaco imposed itself among the clubs that matter.
A few days ago, during the derby against OGC Nice, Umberto Barberis was received by Oleg Petrov, Vice-President and General Manager, at the Stade Louis-II. Present with his family, the former Monegasque midfielder even had the surprise of meeting Claude Puel and Jean Petit, two of his former teammates. The opportunity for this septuagenarian, funny and affable, to look back on his Monegasque memories.
There was a slew of young up-and-coming players. The Puel, Bijotat, Bellone, Amoros… A lot of talent per square meter! With the elders, like Courbis and Ettori, we were the leaders of a group of friends. The magic quickly worked.
Almost forty years after the 1982 title, what does it mean to return to the Principality?
Lots of emotions and memories! If I were to describe my time in Monaco in one word, I would say “happiness” , much happiness. “Happiness” because life was simple and people were very welcoming. I can still see myself walking the aisles of the Condamine market and chatting with the traders. They said to me, “Hi Bertine (her last name), I saw your photo in Nice-Matin! “. I lived in the same building as Björn Borg and Guillermo Vilas. Do you realize? Two legends of tennis and sport as neighbours. Looking back on it, it was still amazing. Borg, who is Swedish, was also very good friends with Ralf Edström, to whom I was also close because we were the only two foreigners on the team. Sur called him “the giraffe” because he was very tall. For his birthday, he had been offered… a real giraffe! We went to pick her up in Nice and brought her back to Monaco thanks to a taxi driver who had a car with an open roof. And we surprised Ralf the same evening in a pizzeria called “Chez Arturo”. We still had a good laugh!
Umberto Barberis, surrounded here, with the entire AS Monaco team during the 1982-1983 season
How was your arrival?
I landed in Nice and President Campora took me over the region in a helicopter before arriving in Monaco. I saw the Principality from above. He said to me, “Where do you want to live? “. I replied “Here! “, pointing to the area by the sea. I gave a place that seemed impossible to me (laughs)! And finally, I stayed for three years in an apartment near the Larvotto. A great place, where my family felt very good. And, to top it off, sportingly, we had a superb team.
Precisely, tell us about this generation, champion of France in 1982.
There was a slew of young up-and-coming players. The Puel, Bijotat, Bellone, Amoros… Quite a lot of talent per square meter! With the elders, like Courbis and Ettori, we were the leaders of a group of friends. The magic quickly worked. The Club wanted to grow, to play relatively young players and to place itself among the best teams in the first division. The ambitions of the management and those of the players were the same. The mayonnaise took.
After the title, the Club provided us with cars with Monegasque flags. We had crisscrossed the city. I have the memory of a popular festival, where all the inhabitants were concerned. This is what makes AS Monaco strong: representing a team but also an entire country.
What are your memories of that time?
We played in the former Louis-II, facing the sea. Some balloons ended up there (laughs)! There was the zoo, and Bouba the elephant, who was said to celebrate our goals. It was the Monegasque way of life. On the field, on the other hand, we were outstanding competitors. And it was necessary to beat AS Saint-Etienne of Michel Platini or Olympique Lyonnais of Jean Tigana. At the time, the French championship was the best, and this was also confirmed by the results of the French team during this period.
During the last day, against Strasbourg, AS Monaco is in the fight with ASSE for the title of champion. The Greens lead against Metz and are about to pass you. And you score the decisive but…
One would have thought that Strasbourg had come to enjoy the sea and the good weather, but it was quite the opposite. We have long stumbled on Dominique Dropsy, the Strasbourg goalkeeper. And then, on a Rémoise corner, we managed to surprise them. 1-0, and it was in the pocket! The Stéphanois were upset that we did not crack. One day, I ran into Michel Platini in Switzerland and he said to me: “You stole a title from me! (laughs).
How would you like to celebrate this title?
The Club had provided us with cars with Monegasque flags. We had crisscrossed the city. I have the memory of a popular festival, where all the inhabitants were concerned. This is what makes AS Monaco strong: representing a team but also an entire country. We ate together in a restaurant and Prince Rainier III did me the greatest honor of my life: to invite me, along with my wife, to his table. And then, we still had a good party (laughs)! I even remember that the next day, Gérard Banide had scheduled a training session for us at ten o’clock. Even after a title, he did not deviate from his principles. I can tell you that I didn’t have the best session of my career (laughs)! I could barely lift my arms. After ten minutes, he said to me: “Bertine, locker room! »
Within the current AS Monaco, which players impress you the most?
There are two: Wissam Ben Yedder and, of course, Aurélien Tchouameni. I even watched the last matches of the France team to see it. Among the great players, there are details that do not deceive, in the attitude, the gestures. And he is full of it. He’s going to have a great career.