Before wearing the colors of Auxerre, Lyon, Marseille or those of the France team, it was under the Red Star jersey that footballer Steve Marlet made himself known at the high level.
Coming from the training center of the Audonien club, the former international ended his career in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis) in 2012. In the process, he became assistant coach of the Red Star, he is now the advisor to President Patrice Haddad.
What does the Bauer stadium mean to you?
STEVE MARLET.
When I was young, Bauer was the Grail.
We only played important games there, as a curtain raiser or when we went far in the Gambardella Cup.
So it was kind of a reward.
Telling us at the start of the week that we were going to play Bauer was enough to motivate us.
Bauer is an experience.
It is the perfect stadium to sting young people, to transmit their fervor and make them become supporters.
Steve Marlet at the Red Star, in 2011. LP / Philippe Le Brech
Bauer is an English-style stadium, with stands close to the pitch.
You who have known the English championship with Fulham, can we compare the atmosphere of the matches across the Channel to that of Bauer?
Already with its name, the Red Star is the most English French club.
There are several points in common, it is true.
To talk about Craven Cottage (
Editor's note: Fulham stadium)
, the East stand looks a lot like Bauer's, with his hat.
It is true that Bauer's fervor is reminiscent of that of the English stadiums.
It is also a loyal audience.
The club went through good times and bads but the supporters are still there.
That's all you love when you're a player.
What sets us apart is that there is a certain code among supporters.
You never hear racist or sexist insults like you can hear in other stadiums.
Supporters are involved in many causes, they set an example.
What can this renovation project change for the Red Star?
The main change is that we could play Bauer in the event of a climb (
Editor's note: the Red Star is currently playing in National, the third professional level)
, which has never been done since the 1990s. our last season in Ligue 2, we had to go into exile in Beauvais (Oise), without our supporters.
When you know the weight of the public, that makes the difference.
We saw it again this year.
We were able to welcome the public until October and we were third at the break, then the momentum was lost.
The idea of this project is also to keep this English spirit.
Brick, metal, these are materials that can be seen in English stadiums.
The promoter (
Editor's note: Realities)
has realized that this is something the club and the supporters are attached to.
