William Stanger : “A true feeling of invincibility”

Stade Rennais Online : First things first, how did you join the Stade Rennais FC’ Academy ?

- William Stanger : «As a boy, I played for US Saint-Malo, and then I have been an intern for a few weeks at SRFC. The first contacts happened when I was 12. Then I joined the pre-academy centre at Ploufragan the following year, and I signed my first licence for Stade Rennais FC when I was 14. The following season, I joined the club’s Academy».

SRO : In 2003, you were a member of this famous generation that won the Gambardella Cup with the likes of Jimmy Briand and Yoann Gourcuff. What memories do you keep from this experience?

- W.S : «The previous year, we had already won the U18 French championship, so this squad was in the continuity of what we had done last year. There was a group of players of exceptional quality. I’m not surprised today, when I see them all play for the biggest clubs. There was a superb atmosphere. Most of us had been at the club since we were 15. The best memories are the semi-final in Montaigu against Olympique Lyonnais (3-1 victory), and obviously the big final at the Stade de France against RC Strasbourg. When I walked in the stadium and stepped on the pitch for the first time, the images that came to mind were naturally memories from the 1998 World Cup».

SRO : In the final, Stade Rennes outclassed the RC Strasbourg (4-1) to bring an end to a competition dominated all the way through. On that year, nothing could have happened to you?

- W.S : «On that year, when we came on the pitch, we felt a sort of serenity that gave us a true feeling of invincibility. This is this feeling I remember in particular».

SRO : Personally, you came off the bench to replace Stéphane N’Guéma (86’). Sincerely, at the time of coming in, what happened in the head of a young player who prepares to jog onto the Stade de France pitch and lift the Gambardella Cup trophy?

- W.S : «I told myself there was little time left to play and I should enjoy the moment to the fullest. I though that’s it, I would be able to say I’ve played at Stade de France. And this in front of my friends and members of my family”.

SRO : Most of the players from this generation went on to join the professional squad a few months later. What did you lack, finally, to become a professional in Rennes?

- W.S : «At the time, I think I wasn’t ready to join a professional squad, even though I had some qualities. I lacked some maturity and some athletic and mental qualities, which might not have been developed enough…”

SRO : As a man born in the area, is it a regret not to have done it at Stade Rennais FC?

- W.S : «I can’t say I regret it, since as I said before, I don’t think I was ready to join the professional team. It is true however, that to become a professional at Stade Rennes, my favourite club, would have been something extraordinary”.

«Yoann Gourcuff ? The most talented of all... »

SRO : Which players impressed you most during your Academy training?

- W.S : «To be fair, many players impressed me at Rennes’ Academy, but Yoann Gourcuff was the most talented of all. There was Jirès Kembo who had a lot of talent too. I also liked Sylvain Marveaux’ intelligence on the pitch».

SRO : Having failed to obtain a professional contract, you surprisingly joined the Glasgow Rangers with another Rennes youngster, Antoine Ponroy. How did you get in touch with this club?

- W.S : «When Paul Le Guen signed for the Glasgow Rangers, he wanted to recruit young players to complete his professional squad. Yves Colleu and himself came to see a few matches from the Reserve and then asked us if we were interested in the project. We obviously accepted the proposition».

SRO : Later, in February 2008, you terminated your contract with the Glasgow Rangers. What were the reasons for your departure?

- WS : «Paul Le Guen resigned in Jnaury 2008, and then many French players started leaving the club (Jérémy Clément, Lionel Letizi, Julien Rodriguez...). With Antoine (Ponroy), we also wanted to leave the club. Considering the context at the club, it seemed to be the best solutions for us. Later, I should have signed for GAIS Göteborg, in Sweden. Everything was ready, but at the last minute, the deal fell through because of financial reasons”.

SRO : During your time in Scotland, you only played once in the UEFA Cup against Partizan Belgrade, in December 2006. This must have been an unforgettable moment? Does Scottish football have a particular specificity in comparison to French football, for example?

- W.S : «I have indeed, played one game in the UEFA Cup, at Ibrox Park and in front of more than 55,000 persons. That night remains unforgettable. I also appeared sixteen times on the match sheet in the Scottish Premier League, including the derby against Celtic Glasgow. Scottish football has got more commitment, there is more intensity in the games. But it remains weaker in tactical and technical terms. The passion surrounding football in Scotland is outstanding. You could think they only live for beer and football (he laughs) ».

From Ibrox Park to the CFA...

SRO : You came back to join Paris SG’s reserve in September 2007. Was this due to a helping hand from Paul Le Guen and Yves Colleu? How did it go there?

- W.S : «After talking to Paul Le Guen and Yves Colleu who were playing there, I decided to train with Paris Saint-Germain’s reserve in order to keep fit. After two weeks, Bertrand Reuzeau, the coach of Paris’ Reserve and Academy director, came to see me and offered me to stay until the end of the season and mentor the youngsters who had just joined the CFA squad. I was 21. I accepted, which allowed me to play competitive football again. We finished the season up the league table. I had another nice experience there”.

SRO : After two years at AFC Compiègne, you now play your football at Poiré-sur-Vie VF, the current leader in the CFA division, alongside players such as Florent Chaigneau. Is the National an ambition for this second half of the season?

- W.S : «Le Poiré-sur-Vie VF is a club freshly promoted to the CFA but very ambitious. The club’s prime objective for this season is to remain in the division. If we go on the same way as we do, this should be achieved in the next few weeks. Then we will see, as the matches go, where we are in the league. Our wish is to finish as high as possible, as for most teams”.

SRO : Since a few years, Rennes’ Reserve bet on a post-Academy policy, by including young players in the CFA to complete their apprenticeship. This season, Laurent Huard’s team is experiencing big difficulties in the League. Do you think this solution is suitable to playing in the CFA? What do you think when you see them struggling?

- W.S : «I can talk about it, since we played against them a few weeks ago. Even though we discern potential among these young players, I believe they need to be mentored by players with more experience at this level in order to hope for anything in this competition. To be honest, you only need to look at the standings top realise they are lacking something…”

SRO : If in the near future, Stade Rennais FC contacted you to mentor the young players of the Reserve. Would you possibly be interested?

- W.S : «I’ve already lived this experience and I’m not sure I would be ready to do it again. But naturally, it all depends on the conditions, if I received an offer…»

SRO : Have you kept in touch with some players from the 2003 Gambardella Cup or players who are currently part of the Stade Rennais FC squad?

- W.S : I’ve kept in touch with some players and particularly Simon Pouplin and Johann Ramaré, who are friends of mine and who I see regularly.

SRO : Since four years, you propose football camps for the young players, which are sponsored by Romain Danzé. Tell us where you found the idea to invest in the youngsters.

- W.S : « I used to take part in that sort of camps when I was little, but I forced to travel quite a distance to take part in them. That’s why I’ve decided to create that sort of events in my region, in Saint-Malo. I organise the camps on my free-time, with the help of Mathieu Le Scornet (in charge of a football school and district section at Stade Rennais FC), in order to allow the kids to have a great time, while improving their technical and tactical ability. I want to thank Romain Danzé, who will give some of his time to offer the kids a unique moment».

- Photo : staderennais.com