Dimitri Payet: "The one I connected with best was Gignac"
Having announced his retirement on Sunday, Dimitri Payet looked back on the highlights of a career that saw him shine in the colors of Nantes, Saint-Étienne, Lille, and—above all—Olympique de Marseille. Hear more from the former French international in this interview
A look back at a long career
The final bow has come for for Dimitri Payet! A standout figure in Ligue 1 McDonald’s—a league in which he tallied 103 goals and 106 assists across nearly 500 matches—Dimitri Payet announced his retirement this Sunday during an interview with Ligue 1+, just days before celebrating his 39th birthday. After beginning his professional career with FC Nantes, the Réunion native went on to play for AS Saint-Étienne, LOSC, and—most notably—Olympique de Marseille, in addition to two stints abroad with West Ham and Vasco da Gama, his final club, which he joined in 2023. In his interview with Ligue 1+, the former French international (38 caps) reflected on the highlights of his career.
Dimitri Payet retires. One of the most gifted players of his generation 🫶😢 pic.twitter.com/OHwxewPcim
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 22, 2026
On His Arrival in Mainland France
"When I arrived in Nantes at nearly 17 years old, I already had experience of life in mainland France, having previously spent time at the Le Havre youth academy. The climate is milder there, and I matured as a person... At Le Havre, I developed my mental toughness—because you had to be strong and resilient—whereas in Nantes, I honed my footballing skills. By combining all those experiences, I became the player I am today."
On AS Saint-Étienne
"One of my primary criteria when choosing a club was the stadium. I would ask myself: 'Where will I be playing my home games? Is the atmosphere going to be good?'... That is my philosophy of football; I simply cannot conceive of playing in a stadium that lacks atmosphere. [...] When I first arrived at ASSE, we were a small group of young players, with Bafétimbi Gomis acting as our 'big brother' figure; he took us under his wing, protected us, but also held us accountable for our responsibilities whenever it was necessary."
Don't cry because it's over...
Smile because you witnessed Payet's genius 🥹 pic.twitter.com/77RZKnCpSh— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 22, 2026
On LOSC and Eden Hazard
"Eden Hazard was a gem, a diamond—a dribbler who could go right or left, and who was physically robust... The Lille management had told me that he would almost certainly be leaving a year later, and that I was arriving to help prepare for the future. Everyone played for Eden back then, and after just two training sessions, I understood why; you simply have to play for him. It was incredible. While I was out on the pitch, I’d catch myself watching *his* game (just like a spectator)..."
On OM and Marcelo Bielsa
"Marcelo Bielsa? 'El Loco' suits him much better, considering the sheer length of his training sessions. He used to tell us that it was necessary for us to grasp exactly what he wanted—that it was going to take time. And in the beginning, we’d spend up to three hours out on the pitch; that’s a long time! But he had a way of talking to you... Everything he said rang true. Before Bielsa, I played football; with him, I truly *understood* football. [...]"
On Strikers
"The player I linked up with best was André-Pierre Gignac. For starters, we got along really—and I mean *really*—well off the pitch. He had a truly exceptional 2014/2015 season (scoring 21 goals). Yes, I provided a lot of assists, but the provider ultimately remains dependent on the finisher."
