Jimmy Nirlo : "Looking back, it wasn’t a great choice”
Interview. Sometimes, a football player’s destiny is a question of details, decisions that change a more or less definite career plan. This may be what happened to Jimmy Nirlo, a former team-mate of Yann M’vila and Yacine Brahimi with the Reserve, who unexpectedly left to Greece after he was awarded a professional contract. A bitter-sweet experience, but which left the current Pacy-sur-Eure player with a massive will to reach the highest level once again.
Stade Rennais Online : Jimmy, you joined Stade Rennes in July 2006, arriving from Jura Sud. Why Rennes?
- Jimmy Nirlo : "It’s quite simple. I had several trials in several professional clubs, and I eventually decided for Stade Rennes, because it is the club in which I felt more comfortable. Also, Mr. Rampillon’s (the Academy’s director) involvement to recruit me was decisive in my final choice.”
SRO : At the time, more professional clubs were interested in recruiting you?
- J.N. : "Yes, I was in touch with many clubs. There was Le Mans, Saint-Etienne, Strasbourg…
SRO : Before you joined the club, what did you know about the Stade Rennais?
- J.N. : "I had the image of a solid French club, and the Academy had an excellent reputation".
SRO : Your arrival in Rennes was quite mediatic (even though he was awarded a trainee professional contract and not a full professional contract), apparently because of your agent and the communication he did around your transfer. Did this put more pressure on you? Did it disturb you at the time?
- J.N. : "No, not really. To be honest, I did not give it too much importance, as my two years contract gave me time to blend in the team and improve".
SRO : After two full seasons with the Reserve, you signed your first professional contract for Rennes in June 2008. Did you really expect it?
- J.N. : "I did not really expect to sign a professional contract. But in the other hand, I worked hard for that, and I had some hopes it would happen”.
SRO : During the first half of the 2008-2009 season, you were a member of the professional squad, but Guy Lacombe did not seem to consider you in his tactics. How did you feel about it?
- J.N. : "At the time, there was a very consequent squad, so I did not expect to be called in the first team immediately. My aim was to keep on improving. There were a few of us in the same situation at the time, such as Damien Le Tallec, Yann M’Vila, Prince Oniangué or Samuel Souprayen".
"Personally, I did not enjoy this experience abroad"
SRO : In January 2009, you surprised everyone by leaving Stade Rennes for Veria FC (Second Greek Division). Why such a rushed departure? Do you regret it now?
- J.N. : "The last months in Rennes were difficult. First, I played at a position that was unusual for me in the Reserve, but I still managed a good beginning of the season. Then, some events put me in a difficult situation. Indeed, I started playing less, and I was hoping for something else. It did push me to request a transfer, which was rushed by the winter transfer deadline. Looking back, it wasn’t a good decision”.
SRO : What did this Greek adventure bring you personally, and in terms of football ?
- J.N. : "The sportive results were good, but the environment didn’t suit me. Personally, I did not enjoy this experience abroad”.
SRO : Since two years, you play for Pacy-sur-Eure, a mid-table club in the National (3rd tier). What is your opinion about your team’s beginning of the season? What is the mid-term club’s project?
- J.N. : "At the moment, Pacy-sur-Eure remains an average club in the National, even though we finished 5th last season. The club’s first objective is to remain stable at this level. This year’s results remain in phase with our means”.
SRO : How about you, what is your personal ambition ?
- J.N. : "Short-term, I would like to manage the best possible season with my current club, and in the future, I would like to return into a professional structure again”.
SRO : During your stay in Rennes, did any player impress you in particular ? Do you remain in touch with some of your former team-mates in Rennes?
- J.N. : "For sure, I had the chance to train alongside some very good players. When I look at it now, most of them are now in Frédéric Antonetti’s professional squad. There were strong individuals at the time already, such as Fabien Lemoine and Yann M’Vila".
SRO : Finally, if you should keep one memory of Stade Rennes, what would it be?
- J.N. : "Difficult to pick one, I would keep three. In terms of sports, there is our title of French Reserves Champions (Ed.: against Lyon in 2007), and obviously my first professional contract. On a personal point of view, I met a lot of people and kept some good friends, such as Benjamin Levacher or Gaëtan Caro".