Eric Mare, professional footballer, born the 11.05.1972 in Verdun, France.
I started to play football at 5 years old in Dieue Sur Meuse where I played
10 years with my coach Mr. Bernard Paquin.
I progressed very quickly and was selected for all the youth teams.
In 1985, I went to the youth academy at Ligny en Barrois with Mr Lombard
François for 2 years and had this a great time.
After, I signed a contract for 3 years with Troyes [ATAC] where he played
for the youth academy with Mr Léon Humbert, played the national professional
youth championships with coach Mr Thouarins and played for the first team.
During these 3 years I made trials with INF Clairefontaine, l'AJ Auxerre and
Caen club of premiere league.
After this 3 years, I could have stayed at Troyes but I wanted to see
something else. During one trial I met an american who suggested if I should
come and play in USA because he liked the way I played.
I said yes because I would like to discover the United States. I played for
San Diego for 1 year. I liked this experience, met many people, discovered
many things for my age and I learnt English.
During an international tournament in Dallas [Dallas cup] with San Diego, a
Canadian football scout saw me play , he invited me to come play in Montreal
Canada.
I accepted and now realised that through playing football, I could extend
my experience by travelling and discovering the world.
I signed for Montreal Cosmos Lassalle for 5 months.
Montreal has an English community and through them was put in touch with a
club in England [Millwall second division].
I went to Millwall but after 2 days trainning I was injured and had to
return in France.
When I recovered from this injury, a coach contacted me to
go and play in French Polynesia.
I accepted to play in Tahiti with AS Exelsior and after with l'AS Venus Mahina.
After 2 years in French Polynesia, I felt it was time to move on.
I decided to go to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, to see the Brazilian football which
I love.
I played on the beach at Copacabana and after a try out with Flamengo
[coach junior] and Fluminense, I signed with Campo Grande, club of second
division in Rio [school of Jairzinho].
I loved living and playing in Brazil and provided a good opportunity to come
back to Europe.
I was invited to play for Sheffield United in England . After five months it
was mutually agreed that I should break my contract, so that I could take up
an opportunity to play in Asia.
I played in Bangkok premiere league team, I played international tournament
in Bangkok, Puket and Cambodia. I've been in Malaysia [Kuala Lumpur, Sabat],
Singapor, and a little in China [Chengdu].
I had done a lot of travelling and gained considerable experience, now I
wanted to return to France. I went to the professional training camp with UNFP
( Union National football Professional). Unfortunately, after one month I
sustained a serious ankle injury.
I was invited to play in Finland for FC Jazz Pori, but my ankle continued
to give trouble, so after two months I returned to France in order to get
further treatment.
I was in contact with a number of French clubs who were interested in me,
but my first priority now was to get completely fit.
I decided to use this period of recuperation to pass my coaching degrees,
as I have always intended to use my experience to benefit the young.