the essential
The news plunged all the old supporters into sadness but also all those who one day had the chance to cross his path.
After a painful end to his life, Yves Salesse has just left us at the age of 79. After his career as a player and then a coach, Yves Salesse, better known as ''Vivi'', became a manager and chose a motto that spoke volumes about his commitment: ''Serve, don't use yourself'' '.
He put it into practice throughout an exemplary career. He only knew one club, the SUA, and when he started in minor leagues, his speed led the coaches to make him play three-quarter wing, a position he didn't really like: ''I never saw the ball, so I asked to play hooker.''
Despite his size, he will spend his entire career in this position, where he will compensate
three-quarter measurements by generosity in combat. In 1958, he was French junior B champion and he spoke with the mischief that suited him so well of the evening with his friends at the La Villette holiday ball: ''We were young! And champions of France!'' Without dwelling any further…
Years later, in 1966 to be exact, he was a substitute for the French champion team against Dax. During the evening at the Eldo, the fans were able to admire not Vivi the hooker, but perched on a table, Vivi the dancer in an absolutely unforgettable sexy choreography…
He preferred ''his'' memory: that day, he was one of the two substitutes as was the rule at the time, but did not say that Pierre Lacroix, poorly recovered from an injury, had thought to him to replace him in the scrum in the event of
need.
Alongside his playing career, he became Guy Basquet's right-hand man in his company Hydrelec, and ended up becoming his partner before starting his own company. A man in the field, his commitment to Sporting led him to positions of responsibility: he succeeded Pierre Chollet as president of the Association, before becoming vice-president first with Thierry Hermerel, then with Pierre-Etienne Edge.
The achievement of which he was most proud was undoubtedly the creation of Académia, set up with Alain Tingaud, and which still allows today's young people to combine studies and rugby. The newspaper salutes the player, the manager, the man, and sends its most sincere condolences to his loved ones as well as his old friends. Vivi, the big SUA family will not forget you.
