The Exclusive Interview – Thierry Zvunka, back from the brink
Thursday the 16th of October was an ordinary day for most people – work went on as normal, the weather was changeable, nothing seemed amiss. Then, tragedy struck, or so it seemed: the French football team returned from a trip abroad, with a victory in the bag; after the plane touched down, manager Thierry Zvunka began the long drive home through the Parisienne evening; just a matter of minutes later, he was involved in a collision with a heavy goods lorry, and reports suggested that the rising star of football management may have lost his life before reaching the summit of his potential.
Fast-forward two months, and the situation seemed as bleak as ever. Zvunka remained in a coma, unresponsive and dead to the world changing around him. Then, the news that the whole country had prayed for came through the newswires – their commander in chief had come round, and looked to be remarkably well given what had occurred on that horrible night. Suffering severe head trauma and spinal injuries, the prognosis initially suggested that Thierry Zvunka may not walk again, and his memories would probably have dissipated. In the end, the doctors were delighted to be proven wrong, and his recovery began to gather pace.
Now, a full eighteen months after the accident that nearly took his life, Zvunka is ready to come out of the shadows. Naturally, he wanted to stay out of publicity’s prying gaze during his rehabilitation and recovery, and the French media to their credit have afforded the national team manager the required space to adjust to life. Initially, even with his remarkable rate of recovery it was doubted whether he would return to the beautiful game – indeed, Zvunka himself questioned whether a return would be in his best interests. Having been unceremoniously dumped by club side Werder Bremen, in a manner that lacked class and professionalism, he was thought to be growing distant from the sport. However, the support of the FFF has brought him back to the fold, ready to restart his managerial career.
“I can’t thank the FFF (French Football Federation) enough for their help and support over the past 18 months, on behalf of both myself and my family. They have truly done everything possible to help us through this recent rough patch, and can’t be praised enough for the way that they have conducted themselves. Also, I need to thank my assistant John Morling, who has finished the job I started in guiding ‘Les Bleus’ to qualification in my absence. Now, I am ready to lead the country into Euro 2016, and will hopefully be able to repay the association and the fans for their unflinching support by bringing home the trophy.”
When questioned, Thierry seemed reluctant to talk about his previous job in club management, at German giants Werder Bremen. Not that this should surprise us – after all, the club dumped him on the scrapheap within a month of the accident, appointed a successor and have failed to make contact with the Zvunka family ever since. It is a set of circumstances that clearly still hurts the Scots-Frenchman, and he isn’t able to disguise his contempt for the Werderaner hierarchy.
“Look, I would rather focus on the future from now on, so let me put an end to the Werder questions here and now. I have nothing but respect for the players and fans, as it is a great club that deserves to be at European football’s top table. However, I was dismayed and angered when I learned of how the board of directors had handled my family in the aftermath of my crash. In total contrast to the FFF, they simply cut all ties, and absolved themselves of any responsibility towards me as a member of staff. I was dead to them, dismissed, and it still hurts. That will be the last I speak of the matter, given that these men in suits deserve no more of my attention.”
Looking back, Zvunka’s memory has retained his managerial career in the most part. He still vividly remembers winning his first title, with the France under-21 ‘Espoirs’ side, as well as his time at Kilmarnock, Feyenoord and the Belgian national team. However, he now has little recollection of his playing days, and no memory whatsoever of his childhood. It is a touchy and poignant subject, considering that he has been forced to re-learn his roots all over again.
“When I came around, and for the week after, I had no idea who my own mother and father were. It’s a horrible feeling, being told that your parents are standing before you, and having no recognition of them. I’ve had to rebuild my life from the bottom up, and in many ways it has helped me come to terms with what has happened – I was just beginning to get my priorities right, and my life balanced, when I almost lost it all. The accident has served me a reminder that each day must be lived to the full, and not to take anything for granted. I firmly believe that I have emerged from this whole experience a better person.”
Dwelling on that thought, how does Zvunka see his future playing out now? He has decided to return to football management, but in what capacity – as simply a national coach, or possibly as a returning club manager, at the lower levels or the very top? Many teams will be interested to see how his return to the scene plays out, and whether he is still capable of achieving greatness…
“To be honest, I’m taking it one day at a time. I’m not ready to jump in to another club job yet, and won’t know fully if I ever will until the Euros have come and gone. Even now, I’m still recovering my energy levels and concentration, so these championships will serve as the best test possible of my current capabilities. If I am to jump back into club football, I suspect it will be with a different approach: Previously, I think that I had begun to let my ambition hinder my improvements of the club as a whole – given what happened in Bremen, it goes to show that everything must be considered before I return to such a cut-throat world.”
Thankfully, it is clear to see that Thierry Zvunka is the same man that we knew and loved before his accident, and has had a rather lucky escape. Some say that these events can help to change someone’s life for the better, and the Scots-Frenchman is using this as inspiration to do just that – while our hopes remain high for a successful return to club management in the near future, it seems that he is taking everything one step at a time. For the moment, he has his focus firmly on Scotland and Wales, with the Euro 2016 trophy in his sights.
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Note: the original thread can be found here - http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/f81/a-hardman-winger-the-career-of-thierry-zvunka-t41352.html
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If he can't bring home the Euros for France - no one can!
