AS Saint-Etienne : “I don’t know if it will be a final stop or not” | ASSE News

Passed by FC Metz and Albi, AS St Etienne goalkeeper Joanna Viollaz (26) decided to put her professional career on hold to focus entirely on her role as an educator. She explains why, looks back on her years in Forez and abroad. Interview.

As we read in the press, it’s the end of one of your relationship with ASSE. What are the reasons for this decision ?

We had two quite complicated seasons with the health crisis, this year we couldn’t have started better with 6 wins (and 6 cleansheets), we really had a quality group and enough to give ourselves the chance to achieve our goals but we was stopped in full swing. For my part, I also accumulated a lot of things between training, my BPJEPS, my Master and my role in the football school, it was quite trying and I felt that maybe it was the moment to turn more seriously to my role as an educator.

Giving up professional football at 26 is a bit early, isn’t it?

It may seem early on, yes after I have been through a lot, varied experiences and traveled a lot in a short period of time. I don’t know if it will be a final stop or not but for the moment, I am giving priority to my diplomas.

Arrival in July 2020, what do you remember from these years in Forez?

This season has been very rewarding both sportingly and professionally. On the field side, I saw other working methods and I deepened my knowledge of the position. On the professional side, I had the opportunity to have important responsibilities on the young teams, it was very educational and I am sure that it will be useful for my future experiences.

Is it a privilege to wear this green jersey even in women’s D2?

Of course, it’s still a great club and we really had a quality squad both sporting and humanely.

The possible takeover of the club is becoming more and more precise. Does the Saint-Etienne club need new faces, new ideas to start again?

I don’t think I’m in a good position to speak and that’s necessarily my concern, but in any case I wish the club the best, whether with new people or not.

In Saint Etienne, you were also responsible for the football school. It’s a driving force for the club. Did you work the way you wanted?

Yes completely. I think it’s important as a coach to go over these categories, you learn a lot. I was responsible for this pole, I liked it because I had great freedom to work as I wanted and I was always well supported to help me in my duties if needed. However, the health crisis did not allow us to live a full season and put in place everything we would have liked, but I hope to have left good avenues for development for the future.

With the Covid crisis, the end of the championships, have parents interfered in your work when you resume?

Not at all. We ask parents not to intervene, they have understood this, we feel that they trust us and that they let us work freely.

Coming from the Lyon region, was it not too complicated to wear the “enemy” jersey?

No, because the project seemed really interesting to me and I wanted to join it because it is a structured club that could help me in my development.

Can this departure make you want to go back to the United Kingdom?

It’s true that I thought about it, we don’t know what tomorrow brings and I am not ruling out the idea of ​​leaving, but for the moment I am looking for a project in France to continue training.

Besides, what did you learn during his 2.5 years there?

I left quite early, I learned a lot about myself, I gained maturity and confidence as well. I discovered a whole different mentality, different ways of working. I was quickly given my chance and I have had very varied experiences in coaching, management and the playing aspect. I really don’t regret it and if I hadn’t had the opportunity to come to D1 I probably would have stayed longer.

Topical and divisive topic. The idea of ​​a 10-club championship is setting women’s football ablaze. A good or bad idea?

For some time now, we have been talking about expanding the D1 to 14 or 16 teams because the level has become more homogeneous and we are forced to backtrack. I think it’s a shame because it takes away a flavor of the championship that was starting to get more and more appealing.

Being a sports enthusiast when you were young (basketball, tennis, judo, skiing, badminton, futsal), when did you decide to get into football?

I have always practiced with my friends whether at school or in front of my house but the club registration came quite late around the age of 12.

Goalkeeper early on, did you have a role model?

It was a bit of a real roller-coaster ride until I was 16 when I alternated between field and goal and then I finally decided to stay in goal. I didn’t necessarily have a role model but I watched a lot what Grégory Coupet and Hugo Lloris were doing.

Finally, what are you going to do tomorrow, the day after tomorrow …?

In the short term I have to finish my Master then go on to BMF / BEF training. I also want to supplement this with training on motor preferences as this is something that interests me a lot. I hope to continue in a structured club that will allow me to continue what I have been able to do in recent years. The outcome for me would be to one day be able to work in a pole of hope.

Interview by Farid Rouas

Crédit Photo : ASSE