Par
Grégory Maucorps
Published on
Jan 21, 2025 at 5:06 p.m.
Retired from the field since 2021, the former SM Caen player Thomas Heurtaux lives a post-career with luxury cars. As with football for more than a decade, the native of Lisieux, who today lives in Milan in Italy, combines his passion and his job.
“A passion for sports cars since I was little”
In reality, Thomas Heurtaux, aged 36, pursued his passions for football and beautiful cars simultaneously. In fact, he created with his father Ludovic sa société RS Sport Auto in 2013, while playing for Udinese, in the Italian Serie A.
I have had a passion for sports cars since I was little. When I was a professional gambler, I bought myself some nice cars, but I realized I was losing money. So I thought about how to drive sports cars without losing money?
The former defender offered himself a Lamborghini Gallardo as the first big engine.
Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini
Ferrari, Audi RS5, BMW 635D, Lamborghini Huracan STO and Porsche Panamera Turbo have also been parked in his garage. “I watch the market every day, it's my pleasure », continues Thomas Heurtaux.
“We complete each other with my father”
L’family business RS Sport Auto, which he created in 2013 in Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, was intended solely for professionals for 11 years, until February 2024. Since that date, the Heurtaux family has open to individuals for the purchase of luxury cars and created a dealership in Démouvillenear Caen.
-“The second-hand market exploded in 2022, but it has been more complicated since 2024 with political problems, the rise in interest rates… So we have changed working method and we opened up to individuals,” indicates the former number 5 of the SMC. The ads are also visible on Leboncoin or La Centrale for example.
“My best memories are in Caen”
Trained at Stade Malherbe (2003-2012), Thomas Heurtaux exploded at Udinese (2012-2018) in Italy. Before multiplying the experiences in Verona (2017-2018) and in the Salernitana jersey (2019-2020) in the boot, as well as in Turkey (Ankaragücü, 2018-19) and in Slovakia (Pohronie, 2021), before to conclude his professional career.
“I definitely have regrets when looking at my career, but I don’t want to have any in reality,” says Thomas Heurtaux. “I had the chance to become a professional footballer. It was a childhood dream that came true.”
At one point in his Italian career he received approaches from AC Milan, Juventus, Lyon, Marseille or AS Roma. His president had retained him at the time. “I am happy with my career, because I never thought I would reach this level. In the end, I never knew my limits, because I always knew how to adapt to the level I was at. I am very lucky of what I had.” If he played with Bruno Fernandes, Medhi Benatia or Rodrigo De Paul at Udinese, the best player with whom he played remains Antonio Di Natale, “of the very, very high level”.
His adventure with SM Caen remains apart in his life, obviously. “My best memories are in Caen. I started here. We moved up to L1 with Dumas, we had an extraordinary locker room, I had a blast, in front of my family and my friends too,” he slips. “I would have liked to end my career in Caen, but that didn’t happen.”
On June 8, he played again on the pitch at d'Ornano with the former glories of SMC, in front of his son, during the legends' match against the French legends team. “I was really happy, it was beautiful.”
Thomas Heurtaux takes care of the purchase and sales of cars, his father Ludovic of the administration. “I was able to develop my network in Italy. We buy a lot in Europe,” he says. RS Sport Auto displays a turnover of around 4 million euros in 2024, after reaching 8.7 million euros in 2022.
Present at the last Caen auto-moto show
In November 2024, Thomas Heurtaux was present at the Caen auto-moto show, at the Parc des Expositions, with his family business RS Sport Auto. On the stand: two Ferraris including an F430, a Maserati MC20et two Aston Martins including a V12 Vantage, a limited edition of 249 units worldwide.
We're happy, it's working well. Working as a family is going well, we complement each other with my father.
A desire to return to the world of football
Still in love with Stade Malherbe (read framed), Thomas Heurtaux is retired from the field for three and a half yearsand a last experience in Slovakia in Pohronie in 2021, at the age of 32. “ I love my freedom and spend time with my son,” he explains. However, with the appeal of the football in the back of his mind. “I would like return to the world of footballbecause I miss it, but I don't know how yet. We have to find the right formula.”
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