In the preamble to the 18th matchday of Ligue 1 taking place this weekend and the match between OGC Nice and Ajaccio, Nice-Première gives the floor to one of the most experienced players from the Corsican team, Stéphane Porato. He simply and cheerfully engaged in a Q&A session before a crucial upcoming match for both clubs. Selected excerpts.
Originally from the Paris region, Stéphane Porato spent most of his career in southern clubs. Discovered at Toulon, then moving through Monaco and Marseille, and after a brief stint at Créteil, he returned to the south to land at Ajaccio. Initially relegated to a substitute role, he quickly supplanted Stéphane Trévisan, and the return of his mentor, the magician Rolland Courbis, definitively secured him as an indisputable starter in the Ajaccio squad.
Nice-Première: To start off this interview, we are an internet site and I noticed that you have your own website (www.stephane-porato.com). How did you come up with this idea?
Stéphane Porato: It’s been several years now that I’ve been interested in the Internet. When I was playing at OM, there was someone who managed a website for several players. When I left Marseille, that stopped, and after some new encounters, I was inspired to keep it up. So there’s a webmaster who handles all the Internet stuff, and then after every match I play, there’s another person I talk with who gathers my impressions to allow internet users to regularly follow everything related to my sports life.
NP: Despite being originally from the Paris region, you have spent almost your entire career in the south, is there a specific reason?
S.P.: Not really. I was spotted by Toulon, so I started there. After the issues that the club experienced, I was approached by Monaco. I continued learning my trade as a backup to Barthez. Then Marseille came calling, and we all know what that club represents, so it was inconceivable for me to refuse. Then there was Ajaccio, who reached out to me. I just made a quick passage at Créteil. It’s true that it’s the only “northern” club in my career. I didn’t have a career plan, and if I played a lot in southern clubs, it’s purely coincidental.
N.P.: Have you ever been tempted by an adventure abroad?
S.P.: Several times it crossed my mind. I had contacts, but each time something happened that caused it to fall through. Today, it’s true that it’s a challenge that interests me. But for now, I’m very well settled in Corsica. I still have 2 more years on my contract after this season, so for the moment, it’s really not on the table.
N.P.: Stéphane, you still have had a successful career. You’ve played in big clubs, thus had the chance to play big matches. Are there any that particularly remain in your mind?
S.P.: I believe that for any footballer, the match you remember is the first one. For me, it was with Toulon and I have great memories of it. The European Cup matches were also important. I particularly remember the UEFA Cup semi-final, with OM against Bologna. The pressure was immense and everything that followed the qualification for the final was memorable. Those are the kinds of matches you hold onto and like to reminisce about.