Bournemouth's Adrien Truffert: The Value of Interests Beyond Football
Adrien Truffert possesses a track record for hitting the ground running. During his time at Rennes, which he joined at 13 and stayed with for ten seasons before transferring last summer to the south coast club, his first appearance saw him enter as a replacement against Monaco. The game culminated with him providing an assist with a wicked left-footed cross and then scoring a late winner. When he was only 18, Truffert slotted the ball beneath the opposition goalkeeper, who is set to play Bournemouth with his new team. “I dashed off in joy and celebrated on the turf,” Truffert says, “just as one fantasizes as a kid after netting your debut goal.”
A Seamless Start in the Premier League
He has performed superbly for Bournemouth right from the start, starting with a brave showing at Liverpool where he contained the Egyptian forward. During that game, he also performed better than the player he replaced and has featured in all minutes in the Premier League this season.
“Although we lost,” he states of that match, “thus it wasn't flawless, but I think we played very well. I was thrilled because it was my debut and it was a very good night. We have started positively, but now we need to continue and secure victory this week.”
The Secret to Settling In
Listening to Truffert explain his switch to the south coast, the first transfer of his professional life, it is no wonder he has slotted in so seamlessly. Team officials describe an smart person and he is obviously astute. He knew the merits of signing in June, to settle during the preparatory period, and has invested the previous 24 months having English lessons, knowing how useful they would become if he realized his dream of reaching the Premier League.
“This is the reason I can speak a little English,” says the full-back, a modest line given this first major interview is entirely in the language. “I think it is vital to pursue activities away from the pitch, to alter your thinking and consider other aspects of life.” When it was put to him that this says a lot of his character, he seeks no acclaim. “Perhaps, but it was my family who instructed me it was significant.”
Personal History
His relatives, including his junior sibling Florian, a central player at Rennes, were in his company when he put pen to paper. Maybe it was destiny. Not just because Bournemouth had secured a long-term objective but because Truffert had spent time in the area as a infant. He was from Liège, Belgium, but when he was an infant, his mother and father moved to Southampton because of his father's work as a laboratory director. They lived for two years in the region.
“My dad states that I walked for the first time on Bournemouth beach,” Truffert says. “Following that period, we headed home to Belgium for half a year and then moved to France.”
National Team Achievements
Truffert has been capped once by Les Bleus, in recently, and last year he was in the France team that secured a silver medal at the Olympic Games, the award granting him a Chevalier d'honneur. “I have the papers to show I have the knighthood,” he states, showing a proud grin. His teammates in Paris included a number of stars, some of whom he also played with at his former club. His coach also turned out to be his idol.
“The French legend, a top French players,” Truffert says. “When I was younger I played as a winger, so hence I idolized him. When I was about in my late teens I transitioned to defender. At the Olympics I played more as a defender, so Gaël Clichy mainly spoke to me, but when it was a group talk he [Henry] taught me a lot. His knowledge of the game was incredible, you could sense his know-how and he was eager to share it to us.”
Style of Play
The club recognized him as an suitable candidate for the coach's style, which is underpinned by high energy. “When you apply much more intensity than your opponent, I think it’s the most effective method to win,” Truffert states. “You have to do other things, of course, but if you begin with securing more individual battles than your opponent, you have a far greater opportunity to win. We run a lot because each player aims to go forward, but all are committed to defending.
“For us it’s not solely the defense's job and forwards who attack. It’s the whole squad. We like to do everything together on the pitch – and that’s the best way to win.”
Leadership and Experience
Truffert was captain at Rennes recently and at Bournemouth he leads by example; he prepares with match intensity and is considered a perfect professional. He is also vastly experienced for his age with in excess of 200 first-team outings and has featured in the Europe's elite competition, Europa League and Conference League. In a recent campaign, his previous club completed a league double over a star-studded Parisian side. The English division, he comments, was the subsequent natural move.
He sought advice from friends and former teammates, including a prominent winger. “I think he’s among the finest individual talents I’ve observed. A world-class forward was also challenging to mark and you learn a lot against individuals of this caliber because they can change a match,” Truffert explains. “Now at the Etihad, he operates on the left flank, but when he was at my old team he played more on the right so I had to confront him frequently in training.
“It was positive for my growth to progress. He advised me the energy is significantly greater to France's top division. In France, it is maybe a bit more tactical – here every game you have to cover ground, with little respite.”
Away from Football
The free time Truffert has had since swapping a hotel for a house last month has let him investigate the locality with his wife and their canine companion. “We like to {walk around the town|stroll through the area|expl
