Goal ! : Yvann, where did you grow up?
Yvann MACON: In Guadeloupe, in Baie-Mahault. I arrived in France at 15, in Montpellier. I had been spotted by a club in Hérault, Castelnau le Crès. I chose to leave the West Indies to join a Sport Studies section.
The adaptation was not too difficult?
The early days yes, a little. But it was Montpellier. Climate level, it’s okay! The hardest part was leaving my parents, I who am an only child, and my family. Friends too. But everything went well. In addition, I was with two Guadeloupe friends. For integration, that had helped us.
How did football come to you?
Of my father. He was playing. He was at the Bordeaux training center. He played at the Girondins until U19 before returning to the West Indies because of his parents’ professional obligations. It was he who transmitted his passion to me. I started playing football when I was six, at Solidarité Scolaire, a Baie-Mahault club.
Which team did you support?
Manchester United. I was a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and at the time he was playing there.
Was that your model?
Yes. I was playing in the middle as well.
And now that you are an advocate, do you have other role models?
Not really. But I like to watch what the best players are doing in my position, to learn from them.
How did Castelnau le Crès find you?
It was at a tournament. In the West Indies, we play against the same teams all the time, but once a year, we come to France for a tournament. It allows you to open up a bit. I had joined the Pôle Espoirs. With the selection, we participated in the National Cup in Clairefontaine. It went well: we had won two matches before being eliminated by the Ile-de-France selection. There was Arnaud Nordin opposite, and Kylian Mbappé. These tournaments allowed us to face very good players. We had a great team. We had won a tournament in Guyana and we had figured well in a tournament at home, in Guadeloupe, where there were big European teams like Dortmund, Schalke, PSG. ASSE too.
“An opportunity like this should not be missed! Maybe it was selfish, but in Dunkirk, I think everyone understood that I couldn’t refuse that. “
You have 3 goals in 3 matches with the U20 Guadeloupe according to your Wikipedia profile …
That’s right. It was during a CONCACAF tournament. I had played higher.
How did you go from Castlenau le Crès to Dunkirk?
I have been spotted. I was given a day of testing and I was caught.
Dunkirk is not the Montpellier climate and even less that of the Antilles!
(He smiles) I didn’t mind crossing all of France, it was for a good cause! And here, whether in the North or in the South, the weather will always be less beautiful than in Guadeloupe.
How was your Dunkirk experience?
Very well. I stayed two and a half years there. The first year, I made a few National appearances at the end but I had a physical problem. I had to go six months without playing, to take care of myself. It held me back. But everything is back to normal last summer. I rejoined the group and it went really well. We had a great first part of the season and that’s when Saint-Etienne contacted me.
How did you find out about ASSE’s interest?
By my agent. He started telling me about it over the holidays. He told me that Saint-Etienne was looking at me. And in January it accelerated. With everything that had happened, my injury was pretty amazing. I had a good start to the season and the team had a good run. I said to myself that it might not go unnoticed, that I might be rewarded. But I didn’t think it was going to come so soon.
Claude Robin, your coach in Dunkirk, did he play an important role for you?
Of course. A very important role even. He trusted me. And it was he who repositioned me. At first, I didn’t understand. I thought it was to troubleshoot but actually no, he left me behind. He explained to me that in relation to my characteristics, with my explosiveness, it was the position that suited me the best. Looking back, I tell myself he was right. I quickly adapted. I quickly took pleasure in playing on the side.
Dunkirk was leader of the National. When ASSE came looking for you, didn’t you hesitate a little?
Honestly no. An opportunity like this should not be missed! Maybe it was selfish, but in Dunkirk, I think everyone understood that I couldn’t refuse that. I have friends there. I am very happy with the rise of the club in L2 and I follow their course. In addition, they started well with a victory in Toulouse, a draw against Clermont. I know that they too follow me and that they are happy with what is happening to me.
What contract did you have in Dunkirk?
A Federal contract. I was not really a pro.
PS: the rest of the interview is to be discovered tomorrow on our site, at 6 a.m.