Lens fans looking for Roux-d awakening from veteran handler
LENS, France (AFP) - After winning his fight with the French Football Federation, who believed he was too old to coach Lens, veteran handler Guy Roux received a hero and #39;s welcome at the club and has attained a superstar status with the suporters even before the 2007-2008 season has begun.
Almost two hours after Lens and #39; 3-1 win over Odessa in the Intertoto Cup on Saturday Roux struggled to exit the stadium grounds for the horde of supporters trying to touch or just get a glimpse of the former Auxerre tactician.
The fans, who have instantly taken to their new coach, voiced their enthusiasm at his arrival by chanting his name for the remaining few minutes of the Intertoto tie.
"I hope it will still be the same on the evening of May 16," joked Roux, referring to the end of the season.
Just two months after his arrival at Lens, Roux, who has 890 first division games under his coaching belt, has already made himself at home.
From his first training session with the side on June 24 he knew how to seduce the Lens faithful and opened up the training camp gates for the general public and was constantly chatting to the spectators - something of a rarity under the reign of his predecessor Francois Gillot.
Roux has never missed the chance to remind people to what extent the ambience at the Bollaert Stadium influenced his choice to become handler of Lens.
"I have always loved this club. I remember the reception I was given by the supporters during the match Lens-Auxerre on my 60th birthday.
"I received a miner and #39;s lamp which, to this day, sits on my mantlepiece. That gesture played a key role in my final decision."
It was at that point Roux realised the level of popularity of his new club, more commonly know by its fans as the and #39;gold and blood and #39; due to the colour of their strip, his second as coach in a 43-year career.
The former Auxerre manager has always been keen to proclaim his fondness for his adoptive region: "The Racing Club of Lens is followed with true passion and I do not want to let them down."
The ageism battle with the FFF did little to diminish his popularity with the supporters. With the vocal support of France president Nicolas Sarkozy, Roux suddenly became a state matter.
"I felt the whole region support me," said Roux.
On July 18 the National Olympic and French Sports Committee (CNOSF) gave Roux the green light to sign on the dotted line with Lens.
With the ageism battle won, he will now continue his immersion in the world of the "gold and blood", starting with a photo session with his summer signings, including Ivory Coast internationals Kanga Akale and Bonaventure Kalou, followed by a close inspection of the training pitches.
It will be, henceforth, difficult to avoid the presence of Roux the superstar at Lens.
taken from soccernews.com
Almost two hours after Lens and #39; 3-1 win over Odessa in the Intertoto Cup on Saturday Roux struggled to exit the stadium grounds for the horde of supporters trying to touch or just get a glimpse of the former Auxerre tactician.
The fans, who have instantly taken to their new coach, voiced their enthusiasm at his arrival by chanting his name for the remaining few minutes of the Intertoto tie.
"I hope it will still be the same on the evening of May 16," joked Roux, referring to the end of the season.
Just two months after his arrival at Lens, Roux, who has 890 first division games under his coaching belt, has already made himself at home.
From his first training session with the side on June 24 he knew how to seduce the Lens faithful and opened up the training camp gates for the general public and was constantly chatting to the spectators - something of a rarity under the reign of his predecessor Francois Gillot.
Roux has never missed the chance to remind people to what extent the ambience at the Bollaert Stadium influenced his choice to become handler of Lens.
"I have always loved this club. I remember the reception I was given by the supporters during the match Lens-Auxerre on my 60th birthday.
"I received a miner and #39;s lamp which, to this day, sits on my mantlepiece. That gesture played a key role in my final decision."
It was at that point Roux realised the level of popularity of his new club, more commonly know by its fans as the and #39;gold and blood and #39; due to the colour of their strip, his second as coach in a 43-year career.
The former Auxerre manager has always been keen to proclaim his fondness for his adoptive region: "The Racing Club of Lens is followed with true passion and I do not want to let them down."
The ageism battle with the FFF did little to diminish his popularity with the supporters. With the vocal support of France president Nicolas Sarkozy, Roux suddenly became a state matter.
"I felt the whole region support me," said Roux.
On July 18 the National Olympic and French Sports Committee (CNOSF) gave Roux the green light to sign on the dotted line with Lens.
With the ageism battle won, he will now continue his immersion in the world of the "gold and blood", starting with a photo session with his summer signings, including Ivory Coast internationals Kanga Akale and Bonaventure Kalou, followed by a close inspection of the training pitches.
It will be, henceforth, difficult to avoid the presence of Roux the superstar at Lens.
taken from soccernews.com
posted by Soccers Mania at
7:58 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home