Abdelhamid: Saint-Étienne’s Offer Was the Most Complete

Yunis Abdelhamid spent eight years with Stade de Reims, but the veteran defender left this summer and has begun a new chapter, signing with newly promoted side Saint-Étienne.

Abdelhamid spoke with L'Equipe about his departure from Reims and beginning a new chapter of his career with Saint-Étienne. Here's what the 36-year-old told the French media outlet:

Yunis, did discussions with Saint-Étienne begin as soon as your departure from Reims was announced last February?

"Not at all. Even before the playoffs, I hadn’t chosen my destination yet, and I only learned that the club was interested in me two or three weeks after the return match against Metz."

Did you have several options?

"Yes, I had several leads, including Saint-Étienne. Saint-Étienne’s proposal was the most comprehensive. From a sporting perspective, with the challenge of returning to Ligue 1, the passion this club represents, and also from a personal standpoint."

What do you mean by a personal standpoint?

"I have always made decisions considering my family life. The initial plan was either to go abroad or to move closer to my in-laws. Here, my wife is now two hours away from her family in Lozère. That was a significant factor."

Did the presence of Olivier Dall'Oglio also influence your decision?

"Yes, of course. We got to know each other at Dijon (2016-2017), and I had concrete discussions with him. I also reconnected with Benjamin Guy (fitness coach), who was also in Burgundy. I was able to get an idea of what Saint-Étienne had become. The feedback I received from players I know was very positive, which influenced my decision. The passion here is incredible."

Did you get any assurances about playing time?

"In football, competition is a fact of life. In any club, I wouldn’t be the only central defender. Competition is necessary to push the group to achieve success. The coach will make his choices. But the sporting challenge here is very exciting. This historic club, heavily supported, the promotion to Ligue 1, and the project being put in place by the new owners—all of it made this a great opportunity for me to help the team stay in the top tier initially."

Olivier Dall'Oglio has emphasized the importance of your experience?

"I know very well why my name was highlighted. I have this label of a leader, and all the clubs I talked to mentioned this almost first. For me, it’s natural, so here, I won’t force myself. It’s my nature. I’ll stay true to myself. That’s how I feel most confident. The priority is to integrate into the locker room and the club, find my footing on the field with my teammates, and get to know them. The rest will follow. But there are many players I’ve already met and talked to several times. The group is made up of good guys, so I have no worries in that regard."

The question of your age often comes up. How do you feel physically?

"I feel great. Even last season, except during the Africa Cup of Nations where I missed just one match due to yellow card accumulation, I kept my place in the starting lineup. For me, the most important thing is the mental aspect. From the moment you enjoy being on the field, the physical side follows. No worries on that front. I’m at 200 percent, and I plan to show it."

Is Saint-Étienne special?

"In my circle, as soon as everyone learned I was going to play for Saint-Étienne, I felt that it wasn’t a club like any other. I even received a message from Jean-Pierre Caillot (president of Reims) saying that I was continuing my adventure at a legendary club. The history of the Greens resonates with everyone. It’s an honor and a pride to be here, and that’s why it’s exciting. As I say, it’s a great sporting challenge to take on. I really want to do everything to succeed."

A word on your somewhat surprising departure from Reims?

"That’s life. For my last match, I had a magnificent tribute. I left the club with my head held high. I gave everything, arriving in Ligue 2, being champion, and with six Ligue 1 seasons, including three in the top ten. We never struggled to stay up, so I had seven great years. I only remember the positive. I respect the club's decision, even if we might disagree. For me, it now gives me the opportunity to be at Saint-Étienne, which is a great club and a great opportunity for me to help the club meet the challenge we face."

Have you met the new owners?

"I’ve talked with them. You can feel a lot of determination and motivation to carry out this project. Also, there’s intelligence because we’ve seen other projects where a lot of dreams were sold and they failed. Here, there’s a certain prudence and they want to go step by step. You can see they know what they’re doing, at least when you talk to them. After that, it will be up to us, the players, to do our part as well as everyone at the club. We’re a family, a team. Everyone does their job, and we’ll try to do it well so that Saint-Étienne stays in Ligue 1 and progresses gradually."

Finally, a word on the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard?

"I’m going to experience it as a player for ASSE. In any case, I can’t wait because there’s an incredible atmosphere and passion with the supporters. But the most important thing is to prepare well and try to start strong to get results from the beginning. So we can create a relationship with the supporters and share emotions."

Photo credit: @ASSEofficiel

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