On June 21, 2025 at the Domec stadium, a gala match will pit the legendary French team, including players from France 98, against a selection of former professional players from the region, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Aude District. Pierre Micheau, its president, and David Flamant, member of the steering committee and responsible for the project, tell the story of the genesis of this operation.
“This is the first time that we are going to host a gala match of this importance. We have to have a great party.” Pierre Micheau, the president of the Aude Football District, salivating in advance. This Friday afternoon, he presented the operation organized for the 80th anniversary of the District, on June 21, at the Albert-Domec stadium. With, as a highlight, the arrival of former footballing glories. As we indicated on December 18, the club of former French football internationals, chaired by Jean Tigana, gave its agreement to field a team, the French team of legends, on the occasion of this anniversary. For the moment, the list of players has not yet been established but the organizers are hoping for the arrival of former 98 world champions (Blanc, Pirès, Thuram, Dessailly, Petit, Deschamps, Barthez and company). And, even if we're not there yet, why not see Zinedine Zidane take to the Carcassonne pitch? But that's another story. In front of them, a selection of former pros from the region. The Carcassonnais Farid Diaf (Alès, Rennes, Laval) and the Narbonnais Geoffrey Doumeng (Montpellier, Nancy, Valenciennes, Lens) have given their agreement. There will also be Nicolas Dieuze, the former captain of Toulouse football club, Laurent Batlles. During negotiations, Daniel Bravo and even Marco Simone could be involved. The composition of the team is in progress. All former pros should be available for an hour after the match for signing sessions under the stadium's reception structure. Note that the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, and the president of the amateur football league, Claude Delforge, could be present at this 80e anniversary of Aude football.
“A great unifying and popular event”
At the origin of this event, a campaign promise from President Pierre Micheau. “We want to organize a major unifying and popular event every year to create excitement around football”he says. The District's 80th anniversary was just the right time to embark on the adventure. David Flamant, advisor to the president and member of the steering committee, then used his connections. Formerly of the Alès training center, where he worked with him, he is friends with the former international of Auxerre, Monaco and Parma, Sabri Lamouchi. “I stayed close and sometimes I go to see him. At the moment, he coaches the Saudi club Al-Riyadh. I was there for a few days. I brought the District pennant, we talked about it and it went from there”explains the former president of the FAC. Contact was established with the international football club (CIF).
This gala meeting will be placed under the sign of solidarity. Warm-up jerseys as well as unique pieces will be offered for auction. The proceeds, like those from the match, will be donated to the Toulouse association Un jersey pour la vie, which works for hospitalized children. All Aude football will be celebrating this weekend. “We are going to play the departmental finals, four among the seniors and two among the youth.” The final of the Lopez Cup (the Aude Cup) will take place at the opening of the gala match for former pros.
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