In a video clip filmed near the Petit Minou lighthouse, in Plouzané, not far from her Lanvénécois lands, Pauline Coatanéa announced on Thursday her extension with Brest Bretagne Handball. At the end of her contract in June, the BBH captain is extending the adventure with her city’s club: she returned there in 2017 at the age of 24 from Nantes and she will stay there at least until 2027.
“Ten years, I thought about it, it struck me! This is my fourth extension with Brest, calculates the right winger. It goes by really quickly. I experienced the BBH’s first match in the Champions League (2017), our first French championship title (2021). I want to continue to write the history of the club. »
“I built my family here, so obviously I have pretty strong ties. »
“I built my family here”
Mother of a boy born in July 2023, Coatanéa, “in search of stability” did not see herself continuing her career as a professional handball player anywhere other than Brest: “I built my family here, so obviously I have ties quite strong. And I needed to know quickly if the club still wanted to collaborate with me. Raphaëlle (Tervel) was appointed coach last summer and we also had to see if it would work out between us. I have her trust and Sandrine (Mariot, her assistant): I feel good on the ground and in the project.”
The oldest player in the Brest locker room, Coatanéa regained the captaincy after the departure of Jenny Carlson at the end of last season. At 31, the Finisterian also feels that she is “still progressing. I’m still evolving in my game, I find it super pleasant to get out of my comfort zone.”
Roué: “We know it by heart”
“We are satisfied with his level, his commitment, his state of mind,” assures Nicolas Roué, sports director of the BBH. When we have a player who matches what we want in our group, there is no reason not to try to keep her. To us, it seemed like an obvious marriage. Pauline has been with us for eight years, it’s huge. A local player, of international level, it’s quite symbolic. We know it by heart, we are sure that it corresponds to the values we want to put forward. » Will she pair up again with Siobann Delaye (at the end of her contract) on the right wing? “We have started discussions with Siobann to see if an extension is possible,” explains Nicolas Roué.
And after 2027?
Olympic (2021) and European (2018) champion with the French team, Coatanéa is only missing a World Cup in blue and a Champions League at club level. She has made this last competition a goal with Brest. “It’s definitely something that tickles me. I know that the step is still very high but I think that we are on the right track. The Champions League with Brest would be the Holy Grail. »
And after 2027? “I will continue to ask myself the same questions: am I still having fun? Do I feel good physically? Today I don’t want to tell myself that in 2027, this will be my last contract. »
