Rampillon : “We did Féret a favour”

In their edition of Sunday, L’Équipe published an article on former Rennes player Julien Féret. The AS Nancy midfielder, born in Saint-Brieuc, spent several years at the Stade Rennais Academy, playing three seasons with the Reserve (46 games, 3 goals). Not offered a professional contract by the club, Féret bounced back in National, then in Ligue 2, before breaking up in Ligue 1 with Nancy. The Saint-Brieuc man is now knocking at the door of France, and he received yet another pre-selection towards the next international friendly between England and France.

Questioned by the newspaper on Julien Féret’s case, the Academy’s director, Patrick Rampillon, doesn’t show too much regrets. “I remember an attaching kid, Rampillon relates. He missed a little something to become a pro. He did not show any warranties. He probably lacked a bit character, of personality and of mental ability. But I think we did him a favour in sending him to fight his way through the National and Ligue 2, where he really built his personality».

The player keeps bad memories of this episode. “When Rennes terminated my trainee contract, It really has been a blow for me, Féret explains. I only had a contract proposal from Loudéac, a DRH club (9th tier). A bit later, Cherbourg offered ne a contract and I started playing in National. But the idea to return to studies and become a sports teacher or find a job really crossed my mind”.

After a season in Cherbourg, Féret went on to spend 4 years in Ligue 2 with Niort and Reims. In 2008, Nancy recruited him, allowing the man from the Cotes d’Armor to discover the top-flight, where he now fully belongs.