Jérémy Toulalan brought back fond memories of Malaga supporters by visiting the Andalusian club this summer. The defensive midfielder trained at FC Nantes relaunched for two seasons (2011-2013) in La Liga, after experiencing the greatest trauma of his football career. The former French international (36 caps) had a very bad experience with the Blues fiasco of the scandalous Raymond Domenech at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. “La Toule” is one of the protagonists of the Knysna strike since he asked his lawyer to write the famous letter explaining the players’ protest.
Toulalan was not only sanctioned with one game of suspension by the FFF (when Nicolas Anelka, who had been excluded from the group in South Africa for insulting comments, received 18 games!). The OL player experienced a nightmarish summer, as he told The Team three months later:
“The summer was catastrophic. The start of the season was catastrophic. I know my image has been damaged. First of all, I’m not comfortable with notoriety, so for that…”
Toulalan: “I didn’t have a taste for much”
And to describe his discomfort a little more: “I didn’t go out. I spent three days with my parents in Brittany, 15 days in Nantes and I ate outside once, in a Leclerc cafeteria because we came to go shopping. I had trouble getting to sleep, I went to bed late, got up early and spent my days on the deckchair, next to the swimming pool, without watching TV or reading the newspapers. I didn’t like much, I stopped playing football. I often do it on vacation, but in general I’m more cheerful. There, I was gloomy. »
Jérémy Toulalan was not afraid to confide in his personal torments. “I agree with Laurent Blanc, there is no debate, if I had been a coach, I would not have taken myself”even said the Breton, only 26 years old. He will never find the France team. After his two seasons in Malaga, his return to Ligue 1, to AS Monaco for three years, did not allow him to regain his splendor. He concluded his career with the greatest discretion in Bordeaux (2016-2018). Before living a retirement far from the world of football. At 43 (he celebrates this Thursday), he takes care of his children in the suburbs of Nantes.
The French team at the 2010 World Cup against Uruguay.
