“I really savored every moment with great intensity”, Daniel Congré, young retiree, looks back on his long career

Après 632 matches en professionnel, le défenseur a tiré sa révérence. MAXPPP – POYER VINCENT

À 39 ans, Daniel Congré a décidé de raccrocher. Depuis un mois, l’ancien défenseur du TFC, du MHSC et de Dijon découvre la vie d’après. Il a accepté de revenir sur celle d’avant.

On May 8, you announced the end of your career. How did you feel when you made this decision official ?

This has been carefully considered. Last season, with the descent to National, I asked myself the question. During the summer, my second boy was born. I didn't want to comment on the failure of relegation. And then, at no time did I tell myself that I had played the last match.

That’s also why I extended my adventure to Dijon. But my body sent me signals to stop, with a knee injury a few months ago. There, all the planets were aligned to enjoy my final moments on the field.

Bio express

Daniel Congré was born on April 5, 1985 (39 years old) in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne).

Trained at TFC, he made his professional debut during the 2004-2005 season. He left the Pink City club in 2012 to join Montpellier HSC, just champions of France. He played in the Champions League there during the first of his nine seasons.

In 2021, at the end of his contract, he left Hérault. His transfer to Strasbourg canceled after the medical examination, he joined Dijon FCO (Ligue 2 then National). On May 10, 2024, he played the last match of his career. He has a total of 7 selections with the France Espoirs team.

In what psychological state did you play this last match ?

Everything was done very well and I thank the Dijon club for it. The coach (Benoît Tavenot) wanted to let me do the talk. I made the last speech before the match with a lot of emotion. When I came into play… It’s quite special. I had this positive stress of playing a professional match. But I also had the feeling of enjoying it to the fullest. We play against Martigues, who are already promoted to L2. I come in, the score is 2-2. We win the match 3-2. It was awesome.

You said it, this decision was dictated to you by your body…

Quite. Many people have asked me if it wasn’t a year too long. I don't agree with that at all. In fact, I would have found it a shame to stop, telling myself that I could continue. There, it was clear that I could no longer. I truly savored every moment with great intensity. I'm really at peace with all of this.

What will you miss most ?

Everything, I like everything. Group life, locker room life, competition, this adrenaline, this positive stress. In recent years, I was often captain, so motivating my guys, the relationship with the staff, the president, the supporters. I will miss a lot of things.

Today, I don’t necessarily realize it because it’s June, it’s a traditional footballer’s vacation. But when in July everyone starts back and I'm at home, it's going to feel weird.

Would Daniel Congré as a child be proud of the career he had ?

I'm really proud. When I was younger, football was first my passion. At no time did I tell myself that I wanted to be pro. I was playing with friends at Quint-Fonsegrives. TFC came for me for three years straight.

At first, I didn't like it, we were entering competition mode, I wasn't a fan. Then I was quite behind at 14. But my self-sacrifice, my desire, my rigor meant that I fulfilled it. And I was the first of the generation with Benjamin Psalm to play in L1.

His book of memories

The first match

"I should have made my debut at the end of August 2004, against PSG. But the previous weekend, with the reserve, I received a big blow on the shin. I tell the coach that I’m in too much pain. Erick Mombaerts tells me “OK” but by denigrating myself a little. I came home to my parents, where I lived, and I was crying. My mother gave me an x-ray. There was a crack. The club doctor didn’t believe it. And so I return to Rennes (November 13, 2004, 1-1), at half-time, three months later. I have a lot of pressure and as a direct opponent, Olivier Monterrubio, sacred player. I came in just before Benjamin Psaume, the decisive passer on the equalizer. We never left the team again."

Models

"Dominique Arribagé. I was impressed, he was the captain of TFC. I am at the crossroads with him the season where we qualify for the Europa League. He gave me a lot of advice. And then of course Vito (Hilton). I arrived, he was already there. Then we left the MHSC at the same time. We knew each other by heart, we just had to look at each other. He inspired me with his level, constant until the end. And then, him like “Domi”, they are such humble guys."

Beginnings at MHSC

"The arrival was not easy. It was my first change of club and I landed with the French champion. But I was able to bounce back. And it seems to me that I have been elected player of the month for March, a first victory. Afterwards, I couldn't name a single memory. But the fact of having played the Champions League with Montpellier will remain engraved for life."

The opponent

"Franck Ribéry when he was in Marseille. However, we won 1-0 in Toulouse. At the time, I worked alongside him in Espoirs. That day, he constantly provoked me. He was able to exert himself mentally and he was at the top physically. This is why he had such a career. Despite his image, he was very rigorous and worked a lot."

In all your clubs, you have worn the captain's armband. Does that say anything about the player you were ?

For the shy boy that I was, and that I still am a little, completely. Because I was named captain not for my qualities as a leader of men but for my professionalism. When Alain Casanova made me captain for the first time at 23, I found it incredible. It’s the reward for the efforts made and the seriousness because I think I embody a little bit of that, a reliable player.

You have played more than 600 professional matches, participated in the Champions League, the Europa League… Is the regret the absence of a trophy?

Yes and no. No because it’s very complicated to win a trophy. It’s reserved for the elite and I don’t consider myself part of it. But yes, because I didn't get far with three Cup semi-finals. It’s still a slight regret. But it’s not a burden.

The figure: 632

On May 8, Daniel Congré played his 632nd professional match. He will have played 325 in the jersey of Montpellier HSC (12 goals, 7 assists) and 227 with Toulouse FC, his training club (5 goals, 3 assists). Before ending his career at Dijon FCO (73 matches, 2 goals, 2 assists). A total to which must be added 7 selections with the France Espoirs team (2 goals).

You have worn three jerseys in twenty years. Was this loyalty essential to you ?

Completely. It’s important to have stability. And when I join a club, it’s for the long term. I spent eight seasons at TFC, even more with the team, nine seasons at Montpellier where I saw myself finishing. And then, I finish three years in Dijon. It was important to have this confidence and to feel good, actually. I felt really good in these clubs.

Looking back, is there any disappointment in not having finished at MHSC ?

Not at all. Football is like that. It’s a choice on the part of the club and I completely accept it. At the time, it’s true that it was a disappointment. But I have no resentment.

You are currently training as a mental trainer. Have you noticed a lack of support ?

Completely. There is a lack of mental trainers for football and team sports. Speaking with quite a few players, many would have needed it during their career. They didn't use it because it's a bit frowned upon.

Seeing a psychologist, a mental trainer, is seen as an admission of weakness. There is a delay, particularly in relation to individual sports. I’ve already needed it myself. There are moments in a career that are pivotal, which require the support of this type of person. But we don’need it only in moments of weakness.

𝐔𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞̀𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞̀𝐫𝐞 🏆

Retour en images sur les adieux de Daniel Congré aux supporters dijonnais 🔴

La séquence complète 👉https://t.co/eWCAegULQs#DFCOFCM pic.twitter.com/eEQDZfdWVS

— Dijon FCO (@DFCO_Officiel) May 14, 2024

Your former partner at Montpellier, Vitorino Hilton, said goodbye at 40 and before you. Did he give you any advice??

We talked a lot. But the luck I had with him was that I found out when I was playing my last match. He called me to congratulate me on the end of my career. It was a real example for me of longevity, of seriousness. My time at Montpellier and my meeting with him also pushed me to last so long.

He started a career as a coach, with the MHSC reserve team. You, on the other hand, said right away that you didn't see yourself coaching. Why??

My passion is playing football. I would be frustrated to be a coach and not be able to participate in the match. That's my vision of things today. It can change. But the times when I was a substitute, the stress was incredible. I get a heart attack if I'm a coach (laughs).

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