Rodez. Guillaume Miquel, the searching head

His journey resonates like a symbol. Like his club, not necessarily expected to settle in Ligue 2, Guillaume Miquel has managed to find a place for himself within the technical staff of a professional club. This was not obvious to the child from Monteils, in West Aveyron, who grew up between the farm and the café that belonged to each of his grandfathers. Especially since his career as a player did not go higher than the regional divisions, notably under the jerseys of Onet, Castanet, Rodez II or even Rieupeyroux. However, the 48-year-old coach has been working full-time on Didier Santini’s staff since this season, as a second assistant coach in addition to Emerick Darbelet, after having held many positions within the blood and gold house.

Jumbled together, the one who was a player in the reserve then served as assistant to Alexis Chambéry with the national U17s, then to Florent Rech with the reserve. Before being in charge of the III team and until last season that of the national U19s. He was at the head of this team at the time of its rise to the highest French level, in 2023. Between all these missions, Guillaume Miquel also took his first steps in the professional staff in 2019, when the club moved up to the League. 2. He took care of reathletization, namely players returning from injury, before they returned to competition.

But since his skills are not limited to physical preparation, in which he began to train during his Staps studies, his role has expanded since the start of the season. “I wanted Guillaume to be with me all the timeexplains Didier Santini, the coach. He does all the sessions with Emerick Darbelet.” During oppositions, he is particularly responsible for taking care of the substitute team, so that they adopt the same way of playing as Rodez’s next opponent.

He brings calm alongside the fiery Didier Santini

“It’s reassuring to be able to work with competent people”adds the head coach, about himself and that of his entire staff. And beyond the skills, the temperament of the Aveyronnais was also a determining element in this promotion. “We haven’t known each other for a short time but he manages to control my characterrecognizes Didier Santini. He has this caring side, he knows how to find the words. When I’m in moments where I’m upset, his voice soothes me. When he feels it, he says to me: ‘What’s wrong Did? Who do you want me to talk to?'” Enough to ensure better dialogue with players. “Last season, there were a few moments when I saw things that I didn’t like, during match eve sessions. I preferred to keep quiet because I know I would have said it too forcefully. vehemence, I know my faultscontinues the coach. But unfortunately, he wasn’t there because he was with the young people, and Darb (Emerick Darbelet) was busy with something else at that time. I know it cost us at least a point or two.”

The rise of Guillaume Miquel is also the reward of a lover of the game, a fervent football enthusiast since a young age. It all started in the village where he grew up. “We played a lot in the schoolyard, it was super naive footballhe reports. At the time, I didn’t even know you could make a living that way.”

Not always in tune with the football mentality

But the trajectory was not straight. Paradoxically, his passion has several times turned him away from the world of football, out of weariness of what he has encountered. This was the case for the first time during his studies in Toulouse, when he wore the colors of Castanet. “With the mentality there was, I wanted to stop everything, it wasn’t possible. I didn’t understand why we could want to break the leg of the center forward opposite to be able to win.” Rebelote a few years later in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, but for other reasons, notably the fact of building a house with his partner. “It seemed difficult to do things by halveshe said in his characteristic calm tone. After the matches, the guys had a beer, I didn’t drink alcohol at that time. We were chatting, but we weren’t talking about football, even though we had just played a match. I was very frustrated.” This same blues also affected him, then, in Rieupeyroux. “There was a good atmosphere, it was very festive, I liked being therehe reports. But when we moved up to the Promotion League (the fourth regional division at the time), I found all the stigma among our opponents: guys not so passionate about the game, a bad atmosphere, etc.”

“If I don’t learn, I’ll stop”

The passion was finally stronger. These little divorces never lasted very long. The man who returned to Aveyron after his studies, in order to become a PE teacher at the François-Marty agricultural high school, in Monteils, where he stayed for 15 years, each time returned to the field to satisfy his passion again. Before finding a setting that suits him, at Raf. “But it’s not a question of level”assures those who appreciate “freedom” that he can have in his work, where he implements his researcher’s spirit, inherited from his years as a student and teacher. “Having this approach is scary in the football worldhe believes. Everyone has their own path to achieving performance. For my part, if I don’t learn, I’ll stop tomorrow. Wanting to be a coach at this or that level is of no interest.”

Her desire to question her certainties has also led her to explore other disciplines. Guillaume Miquel thus evolved in the world of motorcycles, where he took care of enduro hopes with his childhood friend Pierre-Marie Castella, current national coach. He also supported the rugby league players of Villefranche-de-Rouergue during their final stages of 2023. “By playing in all sports, we learn a lot of things for football. It’s super interestinghe insists. In these cases, I don’t consider myself a physical trainer, more as a performance coach.” Enough to further enrich this unique journey, which has found its place in a club that is just as unique.