Bernard Champion, Vert forever

“Alone, you are nothing.” Or when words ring true, are stamped with relevance, and invite you to humility, a cardinal virtue that has always guided Bernard Champion's steps and stuck to his cleats. We borrowed these words, which serve as a lesson in life, from this key figure at the Green House, a devoted servant of his lifelong club who will soon be bowing out, preparing to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.  

Seventy years of loyalty to AS Saint-Étienne: a remarkable achievement that commands respect and of which Bernard, despite his innate modesty, can be justifiably proud. "I've known all the youth teams since the 1956 youth team. My first coach was none other than Eugène N'Jo Léa (the Cameroonian, who scored 92 goals for Les Verts in the late 1950s, forming an exceptional attacking trio with Rachid Mekhloufi and Kees Rijvers, editor's note). With my friends, all die-hard Saint-Étienne fans, we won every departmental title. I also had the chance to play in two Gambardella finals. I played as an 8 or a 10 (ASSE won in 1963 against CASG Paris (3-1) and lost in 1964 to Stade de Reims (4-3, editor's note)," recalls the Stratien, born in 1945, who played with the Loire reserve team alongside Jean-Michel Larqué, his lifelong friend, Francis Camerini, Hervé Revelli, and “Tintin” Triantafilos.

Les Verts Second Teamin 1965. Top row: Farison, Pelletier, Martin, Camerini, Mercati, Murat. Bottom row: Drevet, Triantafilos, Revelli R., Champion, Bereta. Photo: Le Dauphiné Libéré. 

A winning ticket with Jean Boulais

After playing for Grands Amateurs, Groupe Centre, in Thiers, Bernard Champion returned to his native region, obtaining his coaching qualifications in 1976 and taking over the reins at L'Étrat club. “We achieved several promotions, moving up from District to Honneur,” explains this talented left-hander.  

After analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of future opponents during the 1989-1990 season and reporting his findings to Robert Herbin, Bernard Champion volunteered his services alongside president Yves Guichard and Jean-Michel Larqué. He was particularly involved in the creation of the La-Tour-en-Jarez facility, which would welcome its first residents. These included Zoumana Camara, Jérémie Janot, and Julien Sablé. “They were exemplary guys with whom we had no problems whatsoever.” With his knowledge and extensive network, he then worked to establish the training center in L'Étrat. “Casino had acquired the Ollières site with a view to moving its headquarters there from Rue de La Montat. The deal didn't go through.” There were some fourteen hectares near Saint-Étienne, which ASSE and Jean Boulais, the project's staunch supporter, opportunistically and wisely set their sights on. The outcome, as we know, was a resounding success.

High society in L'Étrat

With this amazing training facility and the club's reputation, the Association for Sports Training in Saint-Étienne and its region was created in 1997. It was a brilliant idea, spearheaded by Bernard Champion. "Thanks to Osvaldo Piazza, we made our facilities available to Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Batistuta, and Diego Simeone's Argentina team. Our project was now on track," says Bernard Champion. Aimé Jacquet's Les Bleus, a year before their 1998 World Cup victory, Mexico in 2002, Ronaldinho's Brazil and a certain Araujo Ilan in 2003, and Raymond Domenech's French team in 2006 also made L'Étrat their home. “For seven years, we made these facilities profitable,” says this lover of his region, Les Verts, and a job well done, who is in charge of the club's general management. A tireless worker and the living memory of ASSE, he recalls, "I knew the headquarters at 13 Rue de la Résistance. There were only four employees, including Charles Paret," he recalls, his voice trembling with emotion. 

How could we forget his tireless work during summer camps, the smiles and laughter of children, he who grew up with ASSE? "In 1957, at the age of 11, I had the chance to be a ball boy behind the goal guarded by Claude Abbes. It was against Rennes. We went on to win the first of our ten French championship titles. At the end of the match, I presented Pierre Guichard with a bouquet of flowers. I felt so proud!"

He is proud to have worked for decades at ASSE alongside dedicated and skilled employees. “Let's never forget that alone, you are nothing.”

Happy retirement and a big thank you, Bernard Champion, whose name is truly fitting.