Why start writing a novel after thirty-two years at TF1?
Christian Jeanpierre: The idea was born this summer during a trip to the United States. I covered the 1994 World Cup there and I found, at that time, even if the stadiums were full, that the Americans had nothing to do with football. This summer, I saw football cages on all US football fields, I saw soccer ads (name given by the Americans to refer to football) on TV, in airports, this sport is climbing up there thanks also to Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimovic or David Beckham, who were there. You have to put it in people's heads, the Americans will organize the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, I thought there was a story to tell. That of a gifted kid, ousted from US football, who would trace his path in soccer to become an American Kylian Mbappé. In the midst of all this, I wanted to add a merciless war between the NFL and soccer in the background. I stop there, otherwise I will reveal the whole novel (smiles).
What, who did you feed on to tell this story?
The dialogues were inspired by my years at Telefoot and interviews carried out with certain actors ( "2026, the day when football became American", available at https://chjeanpierre.wixsite.com/2026 ). I adapted punchlines and historical moments that everyone saw on television but that happen in 2025 and 2026. All my knowledge of the last thirty years, I was surrounded by attempts at corruption, kidnapping… Hence my desire to write a thriller too.
"(Free book?) We are in an amazing period, the world is wavering and we are far beyond just a few copyright in December. It's as simple as that "
This is your first novel, how did you proceed in the writing exercise?
I started in December, I wrote from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m. For a month, it was totally enjoyable. I felt like I was in the “Tetris” game and that everything fit together without difficulty. It was born like that. At the end I said to myself: "It holds water." I had a few people proofread and in January everything was tied up. I hope that the few readers will enjoy reading it as I may have written it. It's kind of an eye opener for me and I didn't think I could do that. When you are a journalist, you pay attention to what you say, you have to be precise, in the world of the novel, you go into the imagination but it has to remain credible. 90% of the information I give in the book is true.
Is this novel a way to start a new career?
It's brand new, I've already been asked for a Volume 2 (smiles). I don't want to be pretentious and I stay in my place, but I took great pleasure in telling this story. I deliver in 10 days an English version, I have friends there who are confined, who love football and asked me to. I have time necessarily at the moment, so I prepare it with the help of an English teacher, it makes me work the language. Arsène (Wenger), who did the preface, is one of my teachers (smile). He participated in the idea of leaving the book free of rights and accessible to all.
"Mbappé was inspiring like Zidane, Deschamps or Wenger"
Why put your first novel online for free?
We are in a breathtaking period, the world is wavering and we are far beyond just a few copyright in December. It's that simple.
Your adventure with TF1 is about to end, how are you living it?
Quite sincerely, it has been thirty-two years of immense happiness, exhilarating, notably with the coverage of 14 World Cups (8 in football and 6 in rugby). Discussions are ongoing, there is no reason why it should end badly.
"I have been offered the communications direction of large clubs several times, I have always refused and it is a job that I cannot do"
What will your life be like after TF1?
I am quite enthusiastic about the idea of finding myself an entrepreneur and above all an entrepreneur of my ideas. I hope I will have some. In the next few years, ideas will come up on ideas and content and I hope to be one of those people who will have them. It is an incredible luxury, I am privileged. And I want to work with people with whom I share the same passion. It'll be nice.
How do you view the profession of journalist today?
The universe has changed with social networks, the presence of players on these media, but one thing has not changed: there are more than ever true enthusiasts in our profession. They are the ones who will make the difference with those who take it lighter. I am pleasantly surprised to see that in the generation of thirties and the one below, there are guys who have bright eyes, who love this job and bring a real look. This is important in a period when there is a flood of information on the internet that does not mean much. Journalist, it's a passion job. It is only that. We are privileged. At my humble level, I want to say to young people: "Believe in yourself and your ideas. Be curious, go to the others. Always have energy in the morning. ” There is something that I took as a principle, which is offbeat but that I really like, it is a sentence from Jeff Bezos, the boss of Amazon: "It's always day one". When you have 20/30 or 50 brooms like me, you have to smile in the morning. I do not believe in chance and luck.
A man, with whom you are close, transcribes in his own way and in his field, what you have just stated. It's Kylian Mappé…
That is true. In his own way he is like that. He has not yet read the book but I am sending him this morning (Thursday) after talking to you. He knows that I wrote it, he was inspiring for the book as well as Deschamps, Zidane, Wenger… He and his family inspired me.
Can you imagine diving into the world of football in the future?
I'll tell you a secret, I have been offered several times the communication direction of major clubs, I have always refused and it is a job that I cannot do. My job is to tell stories, to be a journalist, it turns out that I set foot in fiction. I would not have been a good communications director. To each his job.
"2026, the day football became American" , available at https://chjeanpierre.wixsite.com/2026
Read also
- Clap of end for Christian Jeanpierre at TF1?
