Fired from Saint-Etienne after nine seasons spent in Forez, goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier rebounds in… Bayonne, a National 3 club (5th division).
The city where he was born 34 years ago and the club where he played between 6 and 16 years old.
The Basque club announced the news on its Twitter account.
“Aviron Bayonnais FC is pleased to announce that Stéphane Ruffier has joined our club as of today as an educator, we can read.
Its exclusive mission will be to create and then supervise an academy of goalkeepers.
A great opportunity for our club!
"
🔥 Aviron Bayonnais FC is pleased to announce that Stéphane Ruffier has joined our club as of today as an educator.
Its exclusive mission will be to create and then supervise an academy of goalkeepers.
A great opportunity for our club!
🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/Th9rGGHaMo
- Aviron Bayonnais FC (@abfc_officiel) January 13, 2021
In reality, Ruffier is therefore unable to keep the goals of Aviron Bayonnais.
Free from any commitment since his dismissal on January 4, he retains the possibility of signing as a player in the club of his choice.
At the time of his final departure from Saint-Etienne, he had hinted that he intended to end his playing career.
The club wants to save money
The beginnings of his misfortunes at ASSE, where he served as an untouchable for a very long time, began with the taking office of Claude Puel last season.
The latter had summoned him to tell him that he was putting him to rest for a match, but was counting on him for the rest.
Ruffier then slammed the door of his coach's office.
In the process, his agent Patrick Glanz, spread in several media to explain that Puel "attacked a legend of the club".
A strategy to the end from which Ruffier had not wanted to dissociate himself.
Worse in the eyes of Puel and its leaders, he refused to become, even momentarily, number two behind Jessy Moulin.
He was then removed from the group and then dismissed from the team.
The club seeking to save its salary, the highest of the team, 200,000 euros monthly.
Ruffier obviously attacked the club before the industrial tribunal.