We expected him rather in the staff of the MHSC, in Saint-Etienne, or even in Brest, from which he had received an offer from the former coach of the MHSC Michel Der Zakarian, finally, to everyone’s surprise, it was at FC Sète, which Vitorino Hilton chose to rebound. A club that plays maintenance, in National (3rd division). It was as a “football enthusiast”, confides the Brazilian defender, that he accepted the proposal from the Singular Island club.
At FC Sète, “I really liked the challenge. It was a club that deserves to be in the major championships, Ligue 1, Ligue 2, soon, perhaps”. And it was, he slips, “a hasty decision to announce that I was retiring”, when he left the MHSC, after ten years of good and loyal service last May. Moreover, he assures that he “never stopped training” after leaving Montpellier. With AS Béziers, in particular. So today, he is still on the attack. “I really want to play, it’s stronger than me, I can’t hide it from you,” he smiles.
“It brings light to the club”
But Vitorino Hilton may have to wait a bit before putting on his cleats again during FC Sète’s official matches. The contract was signed on time, but it is rather his professional past that prevents him from playing with his new Sète teammates. The French Football Federation must authorize him to sign a federal contract, so that he can play. But it’s on the right track, it seems.
At FC Sète, twice French D1 champion and twice winner of the Coupe de France in the 1930s, having managed to attract such a player, with such longevity, is obviously a joy. “We are very, very happy that Vito has agreed to join us, rejoices Jean-François Gambetti, the president of the Hérault club. It warms our hearts. And that brings light to the club. »
Moreover, the 44-year-old central defender is not only there to play, in the city of Georges Brassens. The club also intends to allow him to bring his experience to the service of the whole structure. With the president, general manager or coach, says Sandryck Biton, general manager of FC Sète. “On a video analysis, on a training session, what he can give as advice… Me, I am the happiest in the world, confides Sandryk Biton. When yesterday I saw some young players looking at Vitorino Hilton, there was admiration in them. »
And maybe the former Montpellier player could help them recruit. Moreover, they are greedy, at FC Sète. After Vitorino Hilton, the club hopes to attract another former Héraultais: Souleymane Camara. “I hope he will join us one day, smiles the general manager of the Hérault club. It would be a great adventure for two MHSC alumni. Vitorino Hilton is not, moreover, the first professional player to try the Sète experience: in 2005, the former French international Franck Sylvestre, who passed through Sochaux, Auxerre or Montpellier, had finished his career in Sète.