Crazy about AS Monaco, the Ruthénois François Fernandez collects more than 400 jerseys worn
Born in Rodez, this 30-year-old has been living in Montpellier for twelve years, where he is commercial director of Connect Occitanie, a group which has various brands in the region. Paco is also a big football fan. A player for ten seasons with the Ruthenian club, he then embarked on the collection of Monaco jerseys, having been worn. Its museum has more than 400! He was “like crazy” after the draw for the Coupe de France.
What is the difference between a worn jersey and a replica jersey? François Fernandez masters: “The label is already different, the material too and the logo is not embroidered but a little in 3D. It’s quite obvious and then, I know the sizes of the players”. He also speaks of a personal experience: “I only got fooled once! In 2006, I bought a jersey from the Italian Christian Vieri but it came to me in size M. …”.
He is clueless on the subject. And for good reason, since, after a certain Julien, who lives in Burgundy, François Fernandez is France’s second largest collector of Monaco football shirts! All worn. He has more than 400 in his Hérault house, gradually transformed into a museum.
He was born in Rodez in 1986, halfway between his parents’ two towns of origin, Millau for his mother and Decazeville for his father. His baccalaureate series S in his pocket, won at François-d’Estaing high school, he chose to move into commerce: EGC at the CCI of Rodez, then Bordeaux, where he obtained his diploma but also his first job. He thus spent three years at Orange, before settling twelve years ago in Montpellier. He is commercial director of Connect Occitanie, a group which has several Darty, SFR, Fnac connect stores (including that of Rodez) and whose headquarters are in Balaruc, near Sète.
If he is “rather sedentary” in his professional activity, this is not at all the case for his passion. That of the round ball. He put on crampons at the age of 8, when he attended Saint-Paul primary school, near the Paul-Lignon stadium, encouraged by his friend Clément Loubière. He thus defended the Ruthenian colors until his departure to study in the Pink City, tasting, in particular, the jousting in 15 years Nationals.
The only one of this generation to have broken through in seniors is Loïc Tulsa, who played in the CFA with Raf. He is also still “a faithful supporter” of Ligue 2 residents: “I follow all the results closely, I watch the matches on TV, I went to see them in Nîmes and I come every year at four or five times at Paul-Lignon. It’s my club forever”.
Behind Monaco with the four coins of Europe
But, for a little over a quarter of a century, there has therefore been a second one, Monaco in this case. He willingly confirms: “I am an unconditional supporter. Even in Ligue 2, I have never let them go. In fifteen years, I must have missed ten matches. I will see them in Italy, Germany, England”.
He was present on May 26, 2004, in Gelsenkirchen, for the Champions League final against José Mourinho’s Porto. He has not forgotten: “It was a fortnight before the baccalaureate. I left by night train to Paris, then by bus, with a group of supporters, to Germany. To take 3-0! “. His love for Monaco is… tunic. Much stronger than the simple green rectangle. It all started in 1997, the year of the Rock men’s sixth title. Ali Benarbia was his first idol.
“I then got into the habit of going to see the players at the hotel on match mornings and waiting for them at their bus after the matches, explains the person concerned. As I speak Spanish, I was able to discuss with South Americans and Spaniards”. The first jersey he collected was that of the Colombian Juan Pablo Pino, hit with the number 20. His collection grew little by little, thanks also to his two friends Ronny Rodelin and Laurent Bessière, as well as to auctions.
“This fever has become an addiction!”, he admits, with a huge smile. He loves them all but a “very special affection” for those of Lilian Thuram, Kylian Mbappé, Thierry Henry, Rui Barros, or even Manuel Amoros. If his museum caught fire, he saved those of Marcelo Gallardo (he in a seven) and Fernando Morientes.
Monday, during the draw for the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France, François Fernandez was “like crazy” when the innocent hand was offered to Monaco – Rodez in early January. “Paco” will certainly be “torn” but he could not have dreamed of better: “I especially want a jersey!”.