PROFILE | Gauthier Hein follows his heart in 2024 | OneFootball

“I know I’ve left part of my heart at Auxerre,” said an emotional Gauthier Hein shortly after leaving the side he effectively fired back to the top flight last season. He was part of the fun-loving all-scoring Auxerre side that clinched a competitive Ligue 2 title in style, earning the accolade of division’s UNFP player of year in the process. It’s a highly esteemed list, featuring the likes of Georges Mikautadze, Branco Van Den Boomen, Amine Adli  and Olivier Giroud. Yet unlike many of those other winners, Hein decided to stay in the division the following season.

It was a brave choice for Guathier Hein to swap a season in Ligue 1 to drop back down to the second division and try and get his hometown side FC Metz back up to the top flight at the first time of asking. Many would question such a move, given that l’AJA are one of the feel-good stories in the top tier this season. He could have been part of the top 10 push under Christophe Pélissier. Yet Hein claims he is on his own journey. “I didn’t return to Metz just for the family. I went for an ambitious project and a philosophy of play.”

Hein and Metz look to reel in Lorient

The Thionville-born forward is now back at the club where he signed his first professional contract, but the challenge of trying to get Metz promoted at the first time of asking is a weighty one. The winger is enjoying himself under Stéphan Le Mignan, who plays to Hein’s strengths with a possession-based approach. The 28-year-old is proving to be a key man for Metz this season, with five goals so far in 16 appearances in Ligue 2. As he was as Auxerre, Hein has been a dangerous outlet on the right side, proving to be a tricky playmaker that is well suited to the physicality of the second tier.

Despite Metz’s fourth-placed position, there is room for optimism going into the second half of the season. Hein has settled well into a new team and a new style of play, and there is promise in his growing partnership with Metz’s top scorer Chiekh Sabaly (eight goals). Only four points separate the Grenats from FC Lorient at the top of the league, but looks like it will go to the wire this season. Only time will tell if Hein’s gamble with Metz will be vindicated.

GFFN | George Boxall