Yohan Cabaye is a busy man. Two years retired from playing, he is now working as assistant director of PSG’s academy while also completing a general manager degree and working through his coaching licences in Wales. FourFourTwo has to interview the man in two stages, such is his packed diary, with an apologetic Cabaye arriving late for round one but promising to finish answering our readers’ questions at a later stage.
Some footballers struggle in retirement. They miss the routine, the adrenaline, the spotlight. Stories of boredom, financial troubles and mental health issues abound. It can take years to adjust to a new position; from being a player to being a pundit, coach or private citizen. Yohan Cabaye doesn’t seem to be having such issues.
He has eased into his new life. Now, he raises an eyebrow and frowns as he absorbs our every word before offering deeply considered responses. It’s like watching a seasoned, good-looking politician speak about Alan Pardew.
That’s no surprise, really. The former Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Lille and PSG midfielder has ambitions to become the quasi-politician of football: a sporting director. He has settled into his current role as if it were an old leather armchair: he picks his words with unfaltering care even as email alerts ping non-stop from his laptop.
His family background and diverse top-flight experiences have prepared him well. But another factor may have helped the 48-cap French international to ease into the boardroom.
Cabaye is a self-confessed former Football Manager addict. He took his hometown club, US Tourcoing, from France’s fifth tier all the way to Ligue 2 in a handful of virtual seasons. Stuff like that doesn’t go unnoticed. In fact, while at Crystal Palace, Cabaye was asked, “Do you ever do research, like buying FourFourTwo and looking at the Football League’s 50 best players?”
He replied, “No. Never. No, no, no, no.” Cheers, Yo. You might have taken them up to Ligue 1 if you did.
Still, steadied by practice in nouveau Football Manager’s press requirements, Cabaye, 37, manoeuvres an interview as skilfully as he could a ball. The Dreamboat has become The Director.
Given that your father and brother both played competitive football, did you feel destined to play, too?
Genna Walker, Swansea
I can’t say if it was my destiny. I always dreamed of being a footballer. I just wanted to play. I think all boys at six, seven, eight years old dream of playing in a World Cup final – and for us, of course, it was France against Brazil. So, I
