Raymond Domenech Turns Down Whiskey for the Good of the Team
By: Laurie | November 19th, 2007
I have a deep, dark secret:
I love Raymond Domenech.
Yes, it’s true. I can’t ever seem to get enough Raymond news. It makes me smile. Don’t tell anybody, okay?
Say what you will about the sélectionneur for the France National Team, there are very few people in the universe who are better at making people say, “But…but… You can’t say/do/act like that!” And yet he does. And he usually gets away with it.
Whether he’s accusing Italy of cheating in the 2000 U-21 Olympic qualifiers, or playing injured players despite pleas from their club managers, or using astrology to pick his team, Raymond…
Well, let’s just say he does not travel the beaten path.
He also has a wickedly dry sense of humor. Oh, and did I mention that he’s married to (or at least has two children with) Estelle Denis, a gorgeous French sportscaster/journalist more than twenty years his junior?
(Okay, that one I’ll never figure out.)
The thing is, though, it’s all for the good of the team. Everything he does and says is in some way geared toward making the France team the best in the world. And I kind of have to respect that.
Latest act of selflessness? Turning down a good bottle of Scotch whisky from a Scottish journalist.
CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AFP) - France coach Raymond Domenech turned down the offer of a bottle of Scotch whisky from a Scottish journalist here on Tuesday.
The France coach said that the last time he had accepted a bottle of Scotch from another Scottish journalist, his side had lost to Scotland - the only team to have beaten them twice in the Euro 2008 qualifiers
And guess what? It worked. Italy beat Scotland this weekend, knocking Scotland out of Euro ‘08, a victory which sent France through as well.
Way to take it for the team, Raymond. Or…y’know… Way to not take it.
(But if that whisky’s still out there, I’d be happy to take it off your hands.)
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Comments
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I didn’t like Domenech at first and was upset with him for various reasons post-WC, but he’s grown on me, and now I’m quite a fan. Everyone (especially the Italians) hate him, but he’s like Jose Mourinho: most either like him or hate his guts.
People can say what they want about him, but his record as our coach is pretty good: Out of 46 games in charge, France have only lost 6 times (two of those were to Scotland sadly).
He gets a lot of media coverage because the media love him, but he’s not so much different than other NT coaches when it comes to players.
Raymond la science, you’ve made a fan out of me!
Posted from
United States
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I also like the fact that he just doesn’t care about the opinions of others. He knows the Italian media loves to hate him, and instead of trying to redeem himself in their eyes, he pokes more fun at them. He wears short shorts though he has really hairy legs. He’s pissed off so many club managers: Wenger, Houllier, Deschamps, Ranieri, Mourinho, Ferguson, Rijkaard, etc. And yet he will blithely say, “I’m not here to make friends but a good football team.” Domenech is probably the biggest defender out there for international football when it comes to club football taking over.
He’s also pissed off players, but what manager hasn’t?
Posted from
United States -
For the most part, I find Domenech pretty hilarious; he’s fun to read about, and be happy I don’t have to care about the team he’s coaching. But that whole “Italy cheated I have proof” debacle was pretty bizarre and, at the very least, ill-conceived.
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United States -
I’m an aficiando of the eccentric myself, but fetishizing Domenech goes a bit far for me. Grant it he’s a wily squirrel that sqeauks the most darling things for headlines, which makes entertaining reading. But behind his seemingly gin-dry humor is a hot anger fueled by self-righteous arrogance. That reserve of spleen is just dying to burst out. It’s good thing he didn’t accept the whisky; it might have sent him over the edge.
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United States -
Domenech is a jackass, piece of shit!!
Posted from
United States -
Apart from the fact he’s hilarious, I also fancy the pants off him, thats coming from a 25 year old! He’s a good looking older guy in my eyes. Lucky lady Estelle Denis!
Posted from
United Kingdom
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