Football: David Ducci, this Gardois assistant coach of Hervé Renard and the Bleues, who is aiming for gold at the Olympic Games

Arnold Alphon-Layre, Patrick Champ, David Ducci et Daniel Delprat lundi soir au Grand Hôtel de Nîmes. MIDI LIBRE – E. DZ.

The 54-year-old Cévenol and globetrotter was the guest of the Association of Football Coaches (AFE) du Gard, Monday March 4 at the Grand Hôtel de Nîmes.

After the French men’s team, the French women’s team. After welcoming Guy Stéphan, assistant coach to Didier Deschamps and the Bleus, at the end of November, the Association of Football Educators of Gard (ÆF) received David Ducci, assistant to Hervé Renard and the Bleues, Monday evening at the Grand Hôtel de Nîmes.

Goalkeeper, detected in Gard, trained in Monaco

It would take more than 2,000 signs to tell the story of the career of the Viganais, born in Ganges in 1969. A young goalkeeper for FC Avèze, he was spotted during a detection in Anduze. The Cévenol Arnold Alphon-Layre recommended him to Gérard Banide, then coach of Monaco. And David Ducci joined the ASM training center, before tasting Ligue 2 with Martigues, Gazelec Ajaccio and Amiens (1989-1993).

A very eclectic journey

Then begin a very eclectic globe-trotting journey, sometimes manager or general director, sometimes coach or assistant (video, data, etc.). From Niort to Saudi Arabia (2022 World Cup in Qatar), from USM Algiers to Ivory Coast (2015 African champion), via Women's academy in Morocco, the Gardois has seen countries and football. Often with Hervé Renard, who was his teammate at Vallauris (N).

Gold goal at the Olympics in Paris

They have been at the head of Les Bleues for almost a year. With a "heartbreaking elimination, at the end of an exceptional human adventure", in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Australia against the country host (0-0, 7 shots on goal to 6) last summer. And a mission for the next one: "The goal is the medal, and the gold medal at the Olympic Games, announces Ducci, 54 years old. The French women's team has never won anything, but we embrace our ambitions. She reached a new level by reaching the final of the League of Nations (beaten 2-0 by Spain on February 28, Editor's note). We have five months to improve, and we think we can do it.

The president of the Association of Football Coaches of Gard Patrick Champ presented a trophy to David Ducci. FREE NOON – E. DZ.

A lucky gift ?

On the road to gold, the Cévenol left with a gift from Arnold Alphon-Layre: a photo of the minimal selection of Gard-Lozère from 1982, with Arpinon or Combe . A lucky charm ?

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