Yoan Gourkouf’s former team-mate Alou Diarra finds it difficult to understand the Breton’s decision to completely cut himself off from the world of football.
This end of January marks the sixth year of Yoan Gourcouf’s career. Arriving in Dijon last summer, the former Lyon player finally decided to leave it after only a few months in Burgundy. After sixteen seasons in the professional ranks, the Morbihans finally put themselves on the sidelines the crampons.
And when not playing with his son in his garden or attending his training or games with Ploemeur’s U9s, Yoan Gourcuff has completely cut himself off from football, content to see a few former team-mates including Benoit Costill, Etienne Didot. or Jimmy Briand.This life away from football is no less surprising to some of his former colleagues.
“If he’s not the only one, I’m thinking of Jeremy Tulalan in particular, I don’t know how ‘Yoi’, a big football fan, hard worker and extremely demanding, managed to get away with it. It was too much football with him. so narrated Alu Diara in a long thread The team dedicated to Yoan Gourkouf. The day after the game, when we were recovering, he did a specific session. But football is so demanding in terms of energy and time that I understand why he wants to spend it with his family. With everything he tried and gave…”
Yoan Gurkuff released after retirement
Yoan Gurcouf explained this in one of his very rare interviews since retirement. “It was very natural. I’m passionate about football, I loved the game, the training, the matches, but everything that was around it, and which became more and more important, this whole discovery, I didn’t like it. I am a reserved, modest person. Today I am very good in my life he assured
Western France. I immediately joined the new organization with my family. In football, we have to respect schedules, but also with children, and I am comfortable in this framework. I lived the end of my career very well. I’m back to who I am, I’m in control. Leaving the football world has done me a lot of good.”
Suleiman Diawara, who met him last spring at the centenary game at Parc Lescure, for which he made an exception, convinced by his father Christian, is not surprised by this radical choice of Yoan Gourkouf. “I greeted my ‘dieti’ (dietitian) at the hotel. I was very happy to see him again. Unlike many players, he left with his family. I can understand that he was too lazy to see so-and-so again he was frustrated, tired and even disgusted with some people and football. Once you make money and become famous, your friends are no longer your friends. They are there to take your place.” he explained.
