Céline Dumerc, the return. After retiring internationally in 2017, after wearing the blue jersey 262 times, a national record, "Caps" returns to the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and puts on the costume of General Manager of the French women's team. At least, she will assume this new role "in the near future", knowing that the 37-year-old player has stacked for one more year at Basket Landes. Dumerc will nevertheless be present "during the next international windows". And the FFBB to specify: "It will also intervene, when its sporting calendar allows it, on the young French Teams, with the players of the Pôle France BasketBall - Yvan Mainini and during the National Camps of the FFBB". Delighted, the former Blue captain speaks to the press on Thursday, by teleconference.
Céline, you are joining the staff of the female France team as General Manager ...
Céline Dumerc : I am the little news. And when you are surrounded by people with so much expertise, it puts a little pressure on me to participate in this first press conference (smile). But honestly, it's only a pleasure to be able to integrate the staff of the French women's team. I really want to thank Alain (Contensoux, national technical director) and Jacky (Commères, Director of Performance and national teams) who came to me to make me this proposal, which immediately seduced me enormously. Now, I hope to be up to the task, trying to share my experience with the younger generations, all in agreement with Valérie and all the staff. I can't wait to start right away, unfortunately it's not going to be the case. I will have to wait a bit because I will still be a Basket Landes player (next season). I will have to juggle the schedules a bit ... Now, I am extremely delighted to join the federation and this position. Thanks everyone!
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How long have you been thinking about this role?
This is something that has been offered to me for a few months. This (health) crisis has turned everything upside down, speeded things up. It took place very slowly. Anyway, I wanted to continue playing for another year. It was an important element and one that the federation had to adhere to. It was a process, with meetings, explaining my position as a player, and what could be my interventions according to this schedule which will already be loaded, I hope (smile).
Have you talked about it with Boris Diaw, himself Deputy General Manager at Les Bleus?
I haven't had Boris (on the phone) yet. But actually, it is in my plans to be able to make a few phone calls to him for advice. He has had this role for some time. It will be a real plus for me to be able to communicate with him so that he tells me about his experience and that he guides me a little in what awaits me with the French women's team in particular.
"The French team, it was the best moments of my sports career"
Accepting this proposal already gives an indication of your future?
I was often asked about what I wanted to do after my playing career. It was rather vague because I had no particular desire, I had not really planned the end of my career, or after. Now, it's been a while since, slowly, I drew a little, in my head, the end of my playing career with, perhaps, the desire to move on to something else. And the proposal of the federation, to integrate the staff of the French women's team, allowed me to concretize the handover and the post-career. Now, will I be up to my job, will I meet all the expectations of the federation, all this will fall into place. This is not a lifetime job that I signed (2024 goal, editor's note). And I'm not someone who was planning too much on the comet. I just want to start the experience and this new challenge to see if I really have the capacity, if I can be efficient and bring what I need to bring in my role. And after, we will see how long it will last ... In any case, I am delighted to have the opportunity to live an experience like this. The France team was the best moments of my sports career. To be able to try to share my experience with the youngest, to continue to live within the teams of France, it is pure happiness. I spent I don't even know how many years (from 2003 to 2017, note) with a jersey on the back. And being in the staff will be a real pleasure. I hope to be up to the task for the longest experience.
Do you have an idea of the contours of your role as General Manager?
At the moment, it's pretty vague. Now, these are things that will take shape, be set up, with discussions with the staff of the France team, Alain, Jacky ... It will be set up very slowly. For the moment, it's complicated. Especially since I will still be a player (next season) and that I will therefore not be completely free. In any case, in my time and physically. But it will fall into place. I would be lying if I told you: "I know precisely what I will do on Monday, Tuesday ...". No, for the moment, I don't know. There is sharing with the players. Sometimes, we know that they sometimes have an easier time speaking with people who are outside the technical staff. I will also be there to listen to them and relay to the coaches. There are tracks like that. But concretely, all the missions to which I will be engaged, I do not know them all and I do not know exactly when and how it will unfold because there are still many unknowns compared to my schedule of player.
Words gathered at a press conference .
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