Coach delivers intriguing behind-the-scenes insight into Regis Le Bris after all-access Sunderland stint
Sunderland welcomed Stade Briochin chief Guillaume Allanou to the Academy of Light recently
The average Sunderland fan might not have heard of Stade Briochin. After all, the French club have spent the vast majority of its existence playing amateur football, aside from a brief dalliance with the second tier of their national pyramid in the mid ‘90s.
But while the relatively humble outfit may not be the biggest name in the continental game, their current head coach, Guillaume Allanou, has just spent the past week on Wearside, working towards a key qualification as a visiting member of Regis Le Bris’ staff.
The qualification in question is the BEPF [Brevet d’Entraîneur Professionnel de Football], and is the highest professional football coaching qualification awarded in France by the French Football Federation - equivalent of the UEFA Pro License.
And as part of his preparation, Allanou has been “immersed” in Le Bris’ regime at the Academy of Light in recent days. Upon his return to France, he gave an interview with Le Telegramme, and provided some interesting insights into the way that the Sunderland chief likes to run his ship.
What has Guillaume Allanou said about Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris?
Speaking about his time in the North East, Allanou said: “It was a chance to see how a club that was fourth in the world's best league before that matchday trains. In training, I saw Premier League players bringing the intensity of the Premier League. I told my players [at Stade Briochin], when they're in training, from the first minute to the last, they're working hard, giving it their all. They're there to earn their place. Even if that doesn't stop them from having a laugh, because that's true on every pitch in the world. But from the first second to the last, they're giving it their all!”
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On Le Bris’ approach, the 48-year-old said: “Regis delegates a lot of the training side of things. He has six assistant coaches, not counting the athletic trainers, the doctor, the physiotherapists, etc. On Tuesday, there were eleven members of the staff on the sidelines. His priority is to focus on the matches.
“He conducted the debriefing after the Arsenal game, and prepared the Fulham game. He’s a true manager. He gives the directives; he sets the work priorities. Then it’s the assistant coaches who design the sessions and manage all the operational aspects. There’s a coach in charge of the defenders and then another for the midfielders and another for the forwards. And then a set-piece specialist… Regis only keeps the pre-match session. He takes over everything concerning the game plan and tactics.”
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