Former international referee, Alain Léauté has had such a journey that photos and pennants line the walls of the living room, the room and the corridors of his house in Cléguérec. The septuagenarian remains active within the Regional Football League, where he is the president of the arbitration commission. This investment well deserves a new Youth and Sports medal, the gold that he will receive this Saturday morning in the Baud district.
“The atmosphere was incredible with 123,000 spectators”
At the forefront of his memories is the Champions League match of November 2, 1994 as assistant to central referee Joël Quiniou at the Camp Nou with FC Barcelona against Manchester United (4-0). “These are unforgettable moments in a career, grandiose memories,” assures the Morbihannais. “The atmosphere was incredible with 123,000 spectators. We went out every quarter to take the temperature before the meeting. I also remember a UEFA Cup semi-final in Milan, which played Dortmund, in front of 80,000 spectators! »
This Breton took his first license at the age of 16 in Cléguérec. “The president of the Cléguérec club asked me to become secretary of the club, I was 18 years old, that’s what gave me a taste for regulations,” emphasizes this former deputy director of the Saints-Anges college in Pontivy. “On the pitch, I was a goalkeeper, but I played more often in B. And at 25, I started refereeing.”
The referee is considering a career plan to experience international matches like in Scotland for the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland. “At the time, we started later, but it could go faster. In 1977, I was a League referee, in 79 at the FFF (French Football Federation). We were going to referee in Brest and Guingamp in D2, in Rennes rarely, in Nantes often.” This does not happen without work, nor without hazards. “The day I took the Ligue exam in 1977, my daughter Nadège was born in the night around 3 a.m. and I took the exam at 8 a.m. in Rennes! » It was calmer for his son Anthony born in 1974.
First assistant referee in France in 1994
His destiny is also a matter of encounters. “When I became a federal referee 1, I was already 39 years old. Didier Pauchard, who lived in Brest, asked me if I wanted to become a linesman. At first it was from time to time. From 1989, it was every weekend.” To the point of becoming France's first assistant referee in 1994.
After a final Ligue 1 match at Martigues then L2 at Le Mans, in front of his loved ones, he hung up the ball at the age limit of 45. First converted to the Ligue de Bretagne, Alain Léauté joined the corps of assistant observers in 2000. “It allowed me to stay in contact with the referees as well as the club managers while still carrying out the difficult mission of our L1, L2 and National referees”.
With the kindness of his wife Chantal, the Cléguérecois graduate continues to travel across Brittany. “We launched the “Test your profile” campaign, I received around forty people who are referees. I still have the idea of improving the exercise through training courses…” He appreciates this new distinction: “it’s always a pleasure”. Alain Léauté is a golden man for French sport.
France
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