His “territorial DNA” made him obvious to become the new manager of Perpignan: Franck Azéma, after a long break in Clermont and Toulon, is back on his Catalan lands, where he knows he is eagerly awaited to anchor the club in Top 14. The child of the country has already known everything at Usap: he played there (1990-1992), coached hopes (2004-2006) and led the first team to the title of champion of France, in 2009, as assistant to Jacques Brunel.

So, when Perpignan manager Patrick Arlettaz let his management know in the spring that he wanted to take a step back after seven seasons, the name of Azéma logically emerged to succeed him. Under contract until 2026 in Toulon, where he worked in pairs with Pierre Mignoni, the 52-year-old technician asked the Var president Bernard Lemaître to release him in order to be able to get closer to his family.

“We were also in contact with Vern Cotter and Pierre-Henry Broncan. They were real candidacies, not decoys, ”says the president of Usap, François Rivière. “Franck has a territorial DNA that I wanted for the club. And then I knew that I was setting up a peaceful relationship with the other members of the staff, ”adds the manager. “It’s a new page in the history of Usap that starts.”

The return to Azéma’s roots is “a great opportunity”, judges his former colleague and former coach of the Blues Jacques Brunel, installed in the region. “When you look at the Perpignan staff, all of them have played at the club. This is also what makes the strength of this team.

Sang et Or supporters also welcome the arrival of a Catalan at the head of the team, who saved his place in the top flight two years in a row by going through a play-off.

“Training in Perpignan is not given to everyone,” recalls Jordi, a loyal club member for 50 years, on the sidelines of the pre-season training course at altitude in Font-Romeu. “Passion wins, sometimes we burn what we love. It is said that Usap is the OM of rugby”. “The arrival of Azéma is a very good thing for the club”, continues the supporter. “He must feel welcome and that will help him in his mission to grow Usap.”

The new Perpignan manager did not choose his staff, already in place, but he knows David Marty, Guillaume Vilaceca and Perry Freshwater well for having had them under his orders, especially during the 2009 title. Patrick (Arlettaz). We had great adventures together and we always stayed in touch,” says Marty. “I’m very happy he’s here. He now has huge Top 14 and top-level experience.”

Winner of the championship with Clermont (2017) and the European Challenge twice with the Auvergne club (2019) and Toulon (2023), Azéma has built a coaching record during his 13 years away from the Pyrénées-Orientales.

“I am delighted to be in Perpignan, in an environment that trusts me”, he testifies, aware of having to assume “a terrible expectation after the results of last season”. The success of the subscription campaign for the 2023-2024 season – the ceiling of 5,000 was reached in just ten days – is proof of this. The first Azema effect?