Since announcing his retirement in 2008, Fabien Barthez has mostly stayed away from football. After an experience as a consultant for TF1 during the 2010 World Cup, the former goalkeeper integrated Laurent Blanc’s staff after the South African World Cup, but his appearances were sporadic and his mission as a consultant at Toulouse FC, launched in the fall of 2020, was just as short.
Seeing the Ariégeois join Zinedine Zidane’s staff in the role of assistant in charge of goalkeepers therefore constitutes a small event. However, his lack of diploma goes down badly with some, who did not hesitate to spark a controversy on this subject. Enough to provoke the anger of Jérôme Rothen.
“ Everyone dreamed of having Zinedine Zidane at the head of the France team. There you have it, he puts his staff in place, already respect that and wait to see. Afterwards if it doesn’t go well, the criticisms can burst outr,” he confided to the RMC microphone to begin with.
“How does he not have enough credit to coach the goalkeepers of the France team? »
“About Fabien Barthez, how can we allow ourselves to say that he has nothing to do there because he has no diplomas? We’re talking about Fabien Barthez damn it, he continued. He was World Champion, European Champion, he won the first Champions League with Marseille and revolutionized the goalkeeper position. How does he not have enough credit to coach the goalkeepers of the France team? »
“Guys have never set foot on a football field and they tell you, ‘Oh he doesn’t have a degree, he doesn’t belong there!’ “. Do you realize where he took the French team?! Who is better to be goalkeeper coach?he insisted. When Fabien Barthez gives advice to Mike Maignan, will he use his BEF or his experience as a player? No, but frankly, stop messing around! »
