Legend: Quarter-finalist and semi-finalist of the Gambardella Cup with Stade Brestois 29, Corentin Jacob stopped his professional career at the age of 25, to join his first club, Saint-Pierre de Milizac, with a continually upward trajectory over his last years. Photo credits: Pascal Priol
Ten years ago, Corentin Jacob, 28 years old, rubbed shoulders with Ousmane Dembelé, Marcus Thuram, Jean-Kévin Augustin, in U16, U17, U18, during his twenty youth selections for the French team, class 1997. “The most impressive was Ousmane Dembelé, but the most mentally prepared for this high level was Marcus Thuram. We felt that he had the codes of the professional world when he was still a teenager”.
At Stade Brestois 29, during his training, he was put in the spotlight, by his status as a young international. A separate category of future star that his teammates in his category did not have, at Stade Brestois 29, like Gauthier Larsonneur (AS Saint-Etienne, L1) or even Robin Le Normand, titled with Spain in the last championship of Europe 2024 (Atletico Madrid), see Brendan Chardonnet, in an age category above. “I perhaps gave them a desire to see higher, to know that it was possible and accessible. It gave them motivation”.
Despite a three-year professional contract at Stade Brestois at the start of his career, and loans to Rodez, Tours FC, Lyon La Duchère, Bastia Borgo, and a final year at US Concarneau, Corentin Jacob decided at 25, to stop his career as a professional player, to return to Milizac, his departure club. Without regret or bitterness. “I am very happy in my life today. I have found a very good balance, between my professional life (successfully retraining in the real estate sector), my personal and sporting life because Milizac allowed me to keep a good level”he concedes.
Regarding his life before, and his professional career, he obviously has some good moments left. “I’m playing my first professional match at Le Blé against Havre AC in L2. Alex Dupont, who was my first coach at Stade Brestois 29, did not hesitate to trust the young people, the second year. You get started to believe it more and more. Jean-Marc Furlan then continues. It was the year where I learned the most in terms of Football, but also the year where I played the least. Great memories, I could have stayed there, I was offered to do so, but I wanted to plan on something else. I loved my year in South Finistère..
With hindsight, and at 28 years old, the question of his positioning on the field, comfortable in two key positions in a team, defensive midfielder and central defender, has never been resolved, and still today.
“It has been the eternal problem of my career. I have never been stable. If I had settled on the position of central defender, I would have had a much better professional career. I am sure of that today . I don’t regret anything, I progressed as a person. Sport is an excellent school of life. When I returned to Milizac, at 25, I settled down and started a career change. from year to year. in N2? If it happens, it must be done in good spirit Finally, the fact that it did not arrive in our first year of N3 was a good thing, because we have to be ready if the opportunity arises. in any case, the example of Locminé or Dinan Léhon, with whom we fought for accession, shows us the path to follow. US Concarneau, I discovered a very healthy club there. For Milizac, it’s a great example, it’s a club which didn’t have a lot of resources, initially, but which had a large network of volunteers. people very involved at the club, starting with the president. There are similarities with our club. You can enjoy football by playing within your means.”.
-Having found his professional path, Corentin Jacob would like to find it on the field and break a 2 in 1 label. His preference is clear, it goes for stability in the axis of defense, but for his coach, Yohann Boulic , it’s also a great asset, this versatility of being very good in two/three positions on the field.
Acceptance is also easier in this Milizac club, which is very dear to him, with his little brothers, who play there, Thomas and Titouan (who is no longer a goalkeeper and plays left back) with the reserve in R2, a father, Michel, who was captain of the team in DSE, and a grandfather, Michel, who was also a player and coach at Saint-Laurent. Football is truly a family affair for the Jacobs, with the desire to establish this Milizac club, their second family, even higher in sporting terms.
Saturday January 11, at 5 p.m.
Stade Pen Ar Guéar, Match National 3
SP MIlizac – Stade Plabennécois
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