Fenix Toulouse: call him “coach Marmier”!
Fenix Toulouse young right-back Matthieu Marmier has been the Toulouse club’s U13 coach since the start of the season. An adventure that he lives passionately.
Whistle in the mouth, plots in the hands and bag of balls at his feet: Matthieu Marmier is ready. This Thursday, like twice a week, the right-back of Fenix (22 years old) gave an appointment at the Argoulets gymnasium to the U13s of Fenix Toulouse who find him there for an hour and a half of training. . They are about fifteen.
Some, like Jules, don’t even know he’s a professional at Fenix. “I have already seen him play, he is too strong”, enthuses Victor on the contrary.
Unanimous, everyone finds it “super”. Visibly in his element, Matthieu Marmier is having a blast and it shows. “I wanted to coach young people because we are more aware of their progress and I think it’s great,” he explains. “I also wanted to give back to the club what it has given me in the five years that I have been here,” smiles the former resident of the training center. Introductory speech, explanation of the session, warm-up, workshops, match and little game to finish: the tasks follow one another and the eye riveted on the chronometer of the room Matthieu manages the timing like an old veteran.
Benevolence and authority…
Help from his “partner”, Mathis, then sometimes from Teddy, the father of a young graduate, the apprentice coach encourages, corrects, details by participating in the session with his hoarse voice.
That day we work on “wing defense” and “one against one”. “Bring him on his bad arm”, “we do not suffer in defense”: the instructions are clear, with a clever mix between what is needed of benevolence and authority essential to keep the most turbulent listening . “I prepare my sessions upstream, I also do a lot of exercises that we do with the pros”, laughs the original Montalbanais whose team is engaged in a five-a-side mini-championship. Very involved, he attends the matches “whenever he can” and promises to do the same even when he resumes competition next February once his knee has been treated.
Passionate, he sees even further and has already started training to become a coach at the beginning of October, once his career is over. “I would like to continue on this path, with kids, give them the tools to progress and see them evaluated. “It looks like a vocation, “coach Marmier”…