At the age of 25, Laurent Bonadei obtained his first coaching diplomas. A vocation born from his Wednesday afternoons giving advice to young people from Grenoble, when he himself was a professional trainee at the Isère club. After different hats, from training coach (Nancy, Nice, PSG) to notably assistant coach to Hervé Renard (Angola, Saudi Arabia, French women's team), the native of Marseille now puts on the costume of a number 1.
Appointed coach of the Bleues on August 23, for three years, the 55-year-old technician spoke to West France for the first time.
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Laurent, you became interested in coaching very early on. Who were your “model” coaches?
I always wondered about my post-career career and very quickly became interested in tactics and strategy. It was the time of Arrigo Sacchi, Johan Cruyff… My sources of inspiration were initially on these coaches. AC Milan, Ajax, FC Barcelona. I observed the different systems with pressing, three-man, four-man defenses. As time went by, technological means too, I remember in particular when we were able to have live ball possession statistics, I was more and more curious about all that. Be on the lookout for strengths and weaknesses. How we will be able to exploit an opponent's weakness, how we will be able to use a strength in our team. I love it.
Even in your long experiences as a deputy, did you nourish this sense of observation of tactics?
Of course it's important. With Hervé (Renard), from the start we discussed a lot about what he expected. I adapted to his demands, his vision of football. It was very rich for me, we agreed on many things. Sometimes we had a little difference in approach but it's always enriching to be in the exchange and to compare ideas.
How did you make this transition from assistant to this coach position?
With a lot of work and travel. I got involved in observing the matches and the players. I met the players in the clubs, I spoke with the clubs. I had meetings with my staff. I wanted to introduce myself and show the way we wanted to work. What was also new for me was this whole approach with the media.
I will give everything to have the best possible results with this team
When you were talking about interviews…
