The 13 desserts, the holly over the door, the Three Kings and the eliminations of OM in the Coupe de France by amateur clubs. Each end and each beginning of the year has its share of tradition and the Olympique de Marseille is no exception to the rule: elimination against Carquefou, in 2008, Quevilly in 2012, Grenoble in 2015, Andrézieux in 2019, Canet-en-Roussillon in 2021. And maybe against Cannet-Rocheville (National 3) this Sunday, at the Vélodrome stadium (13:45)? Five eliminations since the beginning of the 21st century and as many difficult days for the Marseillais, unlike their opponents, in the midst of a waking dream.
“It was madness. We shit about it, but how beautiful it was. It is the Grail. Playing in a packed Beaujoire stadium, against one of the biggest teams in Ligue 1. And achieving the feat in front of his friends and family, remembers Alban Joinel, Carquefou goalkeeper in 2008. At the end of the match, I saw my defenders with tears in their eyes. I don’t even know if they saw the balloons coming. You wonder what is happening to you, it becomes your gem. “
From rooming to curiosity
“It’s an event that I will never see again. It is one of the best moments of my career and a great source of pride. Marseille is a club that makes many young people dream and which will go down in the history of French football, ”says Florian Millan, scorer with Andrézieux in 2020.
Almost 14 years after the feat, it is not uncommon that Alban Joinel is still asked on the subject. Especially when he was playing in the jersey of Endoume, a club in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille, after his move to Aix-en-Provence. “It started with good-natured rooming” yeah it’s the guy who put it upside down “, and then it left in curiosity, especially from the youngest, during meals, snacks:” how did you do it, how did it go? ” », Jokes the porter.
“This kind of match is won second by second”
The two executioners of Olympique de Marseille agree on the essential ingredients for such a feat. “We were a real bunch of friends, ready to go to war on every ball. You have to shake up the pros, in a good way. This kind of match is won second by second, minute by minute. We all carried each other, and the coach took us up there. Above all, you have to uninhibit yourself, with the size of the stadium, the cameras. We must ignore it, ”advises Alban Joinel.
The recipe differs a bit at Florian Milla. “From the 32nd finals, there is no longer necessarily fear, we let go of everything. You always have to believe in an achievement, but with a lot of respect. You can see that during the last 20 minutes, each player was fighting on the smallest ball. We put in all the ingredients, the coach gave the right speech, the preparation was very good, the club did everything possible. But beyond all that, this victory is also a miracle. It is the grace of God ”, advance Florian Milla, very religious, who had discovered a T-shirt with the inscription“ Jesus is the way, the truth and the life ”, after its goal.
But according to him, this part of the miracle tends to diminish, the lower divisions have greatly improved. “The N2 have made a lot of progress. Many players come from training centers and could have made a career. It is also a source of motivation, more than a spirit of revenge, ”considers the player currently looking for a new project.
This distant professional world
Because this kind of feat does not necessarily lead to the professional world. Alban Joinel is a bit of an exception. “I am the only one from Carquefou to have had this chance. And I am 100% sure that it came from this feat. Patrick L’Hostis, FC Lorient’s goalkeeper coach had seen the match, and he was looking for a third goalkeeper of the same age as Fabien Audard, the holder and Lionel Capone, the second. He knew I wouldn’t screw up and I did two seasons in Lorient like that, ”he recalls.
Sunday, the feat could be even greater for the players of Cannet-Rocheville. For lack of a solution to host this match in the Alpes-Maritimes, the 32nd final of the Coupe de France will be played at the Vélodrome stadium and a qualification in this monument of French football would become the new jewel of these fans.