Yann M'vila pays tribute to Jean-Louis Gasset, a father to him | OneFootball

Yann M'vila has posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute to Jean-Louis Gasset, who died aged 72 overnight from Thursday to Friday. Tributes have continued since the announcement of the former France and Saint-Étienne coach’s death.

M'vila worked with Gasset for France between 2010 and 2012, then at Saint-Étienne in 2018-2019, and often called him “papa”. In an Instagram post, he said Gasset was far more than a coach or a friend, describing him as a father figure.

The 35-year-old, a former France international with 22 caps who came through at Stade Rennais and now plays as a defender for Stade Malherbe Caen, owes his France chance to Gasset. After depression in Russia, he rediscovered his love of football at Saint-Étienne under him. He regained appetite for the game, for work and for life, and took immense pleasure on and off the pitch.

When his grandfather died, Gasset was the first person he told, on a day they were due to play. During the match, in tears, he was urged to think of his grandfather.

Gasset, in his eyes, always found the right words. He will now think of the coach when he looks to the sky.

Source: L'Équipe