To celebrate the systematic presence of many Monegasque supporters in outdoor parks, asmonaco.com is continuing its series dedicated to supporters of the Red and Whites. For this 20th episode of the season, head north to meet Aurélien, a resident of Bergues.

Almost 1300 kilometers separate it from the Stade Louis-II. However, Aurélien vibrates for AS Monaco as much as he lived on the Rock. A resident of Bergues, in the Nord department, this 34-year-old psychiatric nurse will therefore be in the visitors’ sector of the Bollaert stadium this Saturday to support the Red and Whites against RC Lens, on the occasion of the last day of the championship. Meet this fan from the other side of France.

Hi Aurelien. How did you become an AS Monaco supporter?

I was more of a basketball fan, but at the end of the 1990s I started to take an interest in football and my father watched the matches, but without really being a supporter of a team. And one evening when he was watching a Coupe de France match, I remember Victor Ikpeba scoring a but and I said to myself: “But this jersey is magnificent! “. From that moment, I started to follow AS Monaco and the World Cup followed, with in particular the selections of Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, so I became a fan of the Club.

We start with 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐊𝐏𝐄𝐁𝐀 🔴⚪️

1m74, so what? @V_Ikpeba flies away 🚀!

⚽️ 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 – 1/18 ✨ pic.twitter.com/COOJoVW10x

– AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 6, 2020

The North is a region with many professional clubs. Wasn’t it too difficult not to support a local club?

I have a somewhat different personality, I like not to do like the others, so it didn’t really shock people that I supported AS Monaco and not a local club (smile). Lensois and Lille chauvinism is very present, but I quickly had an AS Monaco jersey, bought at the market and flocked in the name of Marco Simone, so everyone called me “Simone” (to be pronounced in French , note). I suffered a few taunts but I was fine with not being like the others, and besides, AS Monaco has a great European history, so I was proud to wear these colors.

Do you go to see AS Monaco when the Club plays against Lens or Lille?

Yes, at most, whether at Bollaert or at Pierre-Mauroy now in Lille. I even went to Bruges during the 2018 Champions League. I also went to the Stade de France for the 2010 Coupe de France final. As soon as there are matches nearby, I try to m ‘ get there.

Despite the distance, have you ever been able to come to the Stade Louis-II?

Yes, I came five or six times. In particular, I had the chance to celebrate the Ligue 2 title after a victory against Le Mans, with an invasion of the field. These are truly great memories. I even came to see a friendly match between Monaco and Inter Milan, when José Mourinho was the coach. There, it’s been a while since I came because I have young children, but I hope to take them there in a few years.

Precisely, what is your best memory in a stadium?

Even if it was Ligue 2, the atmosphere during the title in 2013 and the invasion of the field, it was incredible. There was such communion between supporters, after two years of hardship. People honked all over Monaco, we hadn’t slept much. In addition the next day, we went to Carrefour with a friend and we came across Valère Germain, who also had his eyes a little tired because of the party. So I have a photo with our former attacker, while I wear a water pack and I have a Ninja Turtles t-shirt (laughs)!

Do you have any other anecdotes related to the Club?

I created quite a few links with other Monegasque supporters via social networks or forums, and on my wedding day, I have two friends, Virginie and Guillaume, who kept me informed of the score between Bastia and Monaco. It was the common thread! We won 2-1 thanks to a double from Lacina Traoré (December 5, 2015, editor’s note). So I can say that I got married the day a great striker scored twice (smile). And then in 2017, before the return match against Dortmund, a journalist from L’Equipe asked me if I was ready to host German supporters. I had obviously said yes, my declaration had appeared in the newspaper, but the journalist had never asked me where I lived. And since I’m not in the Monegasque region at all, it made my friends laugh.

In the rich history of the Club, who is your favorite player?

My favorite player is David Trezeguet. His goal against Manchester United in 1998 stuck with me, and then there was the 1998 World Cup, so I’m very interested in him. I had a real passion for these surface foxes, and for me, who is in the paramedical field, Trezeguet was a “surgeon”. The ball arrived and he put it where he wanted, it was incredible.

How do you feel about Saturday’s match against RC Lens?

I will be there with friends and we are hoping for a big party for the qualification in the Champions League. This season, you never really know what to expect, but since the victory against PSG (3-0) we are on a superb series. After, in a sold-out Bollaert, it will not be easy because with their public the Lensois are always 12 on the ground. They can also qualify for the European Cup, so it will be a bit of a cup match, in which we will have to give everything. Anyway, fingers crossed!