Sometimes all it takes is a discussion to make sense of a life.
Like the one Vincent Bordot had with his father Serge when he was 19.
At the time, the current Red Star coach was having peaceful days in Coulaines (Sarthe) where he played football as an amateur.
Before Marc Westerloppe, then director of the training center and coach of the Le Mans reserve, offered him to sign in the flagship club of Sarthe.
The latter had spotted him during a Division d'Honneur match (6th level), and had been seduced after a week of testing.
"Vincent was not very playful," recalls Serge, 81 years old.
"If my father does not push me, I do not take the plunge because I was well in my life, in comfort, guarantees Vincent.
He advised me to try, had told me:
you'll see and if it's too hard, you come home.
"
But in 1998, four years later, he will play on April 29 the first of his matches in pros (without having the status) at Le Mans against Nice, in Division 2. “We have already spoken about this episode, my father in laughs but I will be grateful to him for life, ”confides the ex-teammate of Didier Drogba, whom he took by car to training.
He would certainly not have known this trajectory, "managed to make a living from football" through his visits to Thouars (National), Paris FC (N 2) or even Saint-Pryvé-Saint-Hilaire (N 3) , where he started his coaching career in 2007, aged 32.
Here he is today at 45, at the head of the Red Star, 3rd in the National and declared candidate for the rise in Ligue 2 traveling to Le Mans this Monday evening (8:45 p.m.).
"From 10 to 17 years old, I noted the Division 1 scorers so that they could be transmitted to the air"
“My dad keeps a lot of things in him but I know he is proud of my career,” continues Vincent, necessarily influenced in his life by Serge who will remain… the voice of Le Mans.
The former journalist commented for nearly 25 years on the football matches of the Sarthois club on the radio in collaboration with Le Maine Libre.
And it was common to see his son by his side in the press gallery.
"What good memories", slips Serge who was also a trainer.
“From 10 to 17 years old, I noted the Division 1 scorers so that they could broadcast them on the air, I experienced everything through him.
It's strong enough to share these moments, ”says Vincent.
And it is just as much when his father is at the microphone for the games of the son.
“The day after an away match in Ligue 2, I went to lunch with my grandmother who congratulated me on my great match.
My father had only talked about me when I entered, fifteen minutes from the end, when I had only been chasing the ball, ”laughs, today, Vincent.
Health crisis requires, Serge will not be in the forum to encourage him again.
But there is no doubt that he will stick his ear to the radio, as an eternal supporter of his son.
