An “ordinary” player, as he likes to define himself, Alain Pochat understood very early on that his future would also take shape on the bench. At just 18 years old, a rugby teacher, Roland Pétrissans (finalist in the French championship in 1982 with Bayonne) gave him a taste for transmission and education. Curious, passionate about all disciplines, he multiplies his sporting experiences at the UNSS and engages in demanding training, first with UREPS, then the DEPF in Villefranche, “a rare opportunity for a coach from the amateur world. »
Two round of 16 matches against PSG
His coaching career is marked by success and achievements. With the Bayonne Crusaders, he climbed the League Promotion club into the Regional Honor Division. Same trajectory with the Aviron Bayonnais reserve, before becoming assistant to Christian Sarramagna during the climbs of CFA 2 in National with, as a highlight, a round of 16 of the Coupe de France at the Parc des Princes lost against Pedro Miguel Pauleta’s Paris Saint-Germain in 2004 (0-2). He then moved to the National as head rowing coach, and stayed there for four seasons. They leave it worn. A break is necessary: sabbatical year.
“In Nantes in Ligue 1, with Pierre Aristouy, we are being weighed down even though we are 11th in the standings! »
Football quickly reminds us of this. In Boulogne first, then in Villefranche, a club that he will lead from N2 to National. Four notable seasons, punctuated in particular by a new round of 16 of the Coupe de France at Parc OL in 2019, again against PSG. They push Thomas Tuchel’s players into overtime (0-3). A rescue in N2 with Bourg-en-Bresse will follow, then a short experience in Ligue 1 as assistant to Pierre Aristouy at FC Nantes. “We are being weighed down even though we are 11th in the standings! »
Among the coaches, Alain Pochat is particularly inspired by Franck Haise and Gian Piero Gasperini.
Bertrand Lapègue / SO
Winning return to Bayonne
Thirteen years after his departure, Alain Pochat returns to Bayonne in 2024. Where it all began. A winning return with immediate accession to N2 and a renewed collective dynamic. The club will spend the end-of-year holidays on the podium in Pool A. For him, this nomination for the “Sud Ouest” Oscars goes beyond personal recognition. “It highlights the work of an entire club. We tried to restore competence everywhere,” he underlines, convinced that there is a real place for a club from New Aquitaine to take on the map of French football.
His football is chameleonic: proactive, capable of causing problems for the opponent, alternating ball control and physical intensity
Committed until 2029, with the desire to go “until retirement”, Alain Pochat wishes to grow Rowing Bayonnais on and off the field, particularly in terms of infrastructure. Like a lucid, demanding and passionate builder. His football is chameleonic: proactive, capable of causing problems for the opponent, alternating control of the ball and physical intensity. Inspired in particular by Franck Haise, currently at Nice after a successful stint at Lense, and Gian Piero Gasperini, today at AS Roma after nine seasons at the head of Atalanta Bergamo, he advocates strong collective intelligence, versatile players, generous in their effort and fully invested in the project.
