After formalizing her contract extension with Olympique Lyonnais until 2026, Wendie Renard spoke exclusively to RMC Sport about the last major contract of her career, her loyalty to OL, the temptation to experience abroad, and French women’s football.
Wendie Renard, you have just extended with Olympique Lyonnais, this is the last major contract of your career.
I’m old (laughs)! I think yes. If God allows me to go until 2026, we will see how mentally and psychologically I will be, but for me it is one of the last.
If you go to the end of this contract, you will be the player of only one club. Like a Paolo Maldini in Milan. What inspires you?
It was the club that trusted me from day one because I could have gone back to Martinique and not been able to live my dreams. I had this opportunity, and we grew up together. We have structured ourselves year after year. It hasn’t been easy, even though I’ve always said that I know where I am. And that, for me, OL are the best club in all aspects. But I wanted to go elsewhere. The bar of 100 matches in the Champions League, it made me think: how I arrived at OL, the story that I am writing personally, even if I don’t really like to talk about myself . I thought about it, and I made my decision a short time ago.
Was this record of 100 matches played in the Champions League a trigger?
Personally, yes. Because I received a lot of messages from players who have nothing to do with OL. I said to myself « you always wanted to leave your name in football ». To be the first to reach this symbolic figure, which will certainly be beaten and I have no problem with that. Your story with this club is still to be done and to continue. So we sat down with my adviser, and we decided to stay.
This is the first time that you have extended your contract so late, it seems that the temptation has never been so strong to leave the club, especially for the Monterrey Tigers, isn’t it?
It’s true, even if there will always be « why you didn’t leave ». But that, it is my entourage and I who know. It’s true that I wanted to leave because I had opportunities, and I wanted to continue to grow, to win elsewhere, to know another culture, to be able to grow another championship. Have the prospect somewhere to bring in other players. I always said that if I left it was not for the holidays but to continue winning. We discussed this well with the president, and Vincent Ponsot. I am an ambitious person, I want to continue winning, to see a conquering OL.
« We must professionalize the French championship »
For several seasons, the French championship has lagged behind other European countries. Could this have counted in your thinking?
Some countries were behind, but they got ahead of us. We have two clubs, Paris and Lyon, without wanting to disrespect the others, which attract foreign players, it’s a chance. Even in Fleury, Montpellier, or Soyaux. We must succeed in professionalizing this championship. It’s important, because that’s how we go through the stages, attract sponsors. Even at the land level, there are specifications to review. The promotion of the discipline goes through good facilities to allow television to film properly, it is also important to have a good field to play. In England, it’s clean, in Spain it’s much better.
Many speak of you at OL as a role model, how do you welcome that?
It warms the heart. But all these titles, we won them together. It happens naturally. At times, I don’t realize who I am at the club, and in general. Because I have always thought collectively. Even though I’ve been the captain for several years, on my own, I can’t do it. We are a group, a staff. I learned that from the elders. This DNA of the club is important, we must wet the jersey and respect all these people who work for the club. My adviser often said to me: « you arrived at the right time in football », and it was confirmed. Today I won 31 titles, and I still want more. I don’t want to stop. Until the end I will always give the maximum.
Would the little girl who played ball in the family home at Le Prêcheur have believed her if she had been told that she would play for 20 years at Olympique Lyonnais?
Not at all (smile). Really not at all. I often say it, the Prêcheur’s little girl has come a long way. It’s not easy, she held on. I am very grateful. After Clairefontaine, I could have been desperate and gone home and then Farid Benstiti said yes from the first seconds. There is something special about this club and this city. I spent half my life in Lyon. It means a lot to me. There are incredible people in this club who are behind the scenes. They mean a lot to me, they helped me. There is a strong connection.
Is an experience at OL Reign (the club’s American franchise) possible during these four years?
Everything is possible. Especially since players have already done it. With this new contract, I can afford to go to the United States. But then there are plenty of aspects to take into account: selection, jet lag, back and forth, synthetic pitches which are not good for cartilage and joints.
#ambitious #Wendie #Renard #embody #conquering
