Chef Florent Ladeyn is a big fan of Losc.
Before the derby against Lens, he confided at
20 Minutes
on his passion with many anecdotes to the key.
Top Chef
notably allowed him to meet Sébastien Corchia.
And the roles were reversed between the footballer and the former star chef.
For several years, Florent Ladeyn has embodied the new generation of chefs in the Lille metropolis.
Owner of three restaurants including two in Lille, the 36-year-old cook is also a big fan of Losc.
Before the derby against Lens this Friday (9 p.m.) at the Bollaert stadium, he talks to us about his passion for the Mastiffs and his dream of seeing the northern club win the league title.
Why do you like soccer?
I love football because it's a Sunday afternoon hobby after a family meal.
The good thing about this sport is that anyone can play it.
Me, I played… two months.
Because, in fact, I come from rugby.
I played in Armentières for 10-12 years and also in Bailleul.
We are not going to lie to each other, I find myself more in the values of rugby than those of football.
On the other hand, I have never had a heart club in rugby unlike football.
How did you become a Losc fan?
When I was a kid, I left Bailleul by bus to go see a match in Grimonprez-Jooris.
It was a Losc-OM.
At the time, Pascal Olmeta kept Marseille goals.
We were on the bend and Olmeta showed us her ass (
laughs
).
We sang: "Come on Olmeta, show us your butt".
And he harangued the audience to sing louder and louder.
And when he thought it was good, he pulled down his shorts and showed us his butt!
It was good, there were no insults, nothing at all.
I thought it was awesome.
Did Olmeta's ass really click?
That's it.
From that day on, I started to support the Losc.
In addition, when I was little, everyone around me was for Lens.
I also went to see matches at the Bollaert stadium but I never saw Olmeta show her ass there (
laughs
).
What is it.
It's really the Losc that plunged me into the thing because I come from a family that is not football.
Do you often watch Losc matches?
I'm not a soccer geek.
Usually, I watch the games very little because I work but this season, we are in a very specific context.
At the moment, I don't work in the evening which makes me very weird.
And in the end, I have never followed a season so much.
Stroke of luck: Lille is playing the title.
In addition, in retrospect, we all said that Gérard Lopez was only there to make money when he sold Osimhen in Naples.
Finally we will be first or second.
It's an extraordinary season.
What are your fondest memories with the Losc?
There are several like the comeback in Ligue 1 in 2000. I also remember the matches of Losc in the Champions League played in Bollaert.
I also remember a Lens-Lille lived in the stands of Lensois supporters.
We were three friends.
Le Losc had scored two or three goals, we had shouted in the stands and it went very well.
How did you experience the Losc double ten years ago?
I was in Lille and I was doing the farandole on the Grand-Place.
It must have been the fourth time in my life that I went to Lille.
I rarely went to town.
I'm a guy from Boeschepe [40 km northwest of Lille] at the base.
Did you make friends with players?
I don't know the current players. We should have done things together this season but it didn't happen because of the health situation. I worked a bit with the club in previous years but I never asked to be paid. I just wanted tickets for the games. Otherwise, I was very close to guys like Florent Balmont, Rio Mavuba, Franck Béria or even Sébastien Corchia who often came to eat at restaurants. The meeting with the latter was funny. He had followed
Top Chef
on TV and when he saw me, I had the impression that the tables were turned.
Me, I was crazy to see Sébastien Corchia and he was too happy to see me.
It was funny.
And then there is Gregory Wimbée who is a neighbor of Bloempot and with whom we have a little fun.
With my restaurant team, we have already played football against Béria, Balmont in Greg Wimbée's futsal complex.
There is the derby on Friday against Lens.
What do you think of this regional rival?
I was very happy with their comeback in Ligue 1. You should know that 90% of my friends who love football support RC Lens.
Suddenly, we do not have bad rooms.
When we won the derby in the first leg (4-0), I posted on social networks the song by Jakie Quartz:
Just an update
.
But overall, what Lens is doing this year is very strong.
The guys play well, you can feel a good spirit.
Moreover, I prefer to see them in the European Cup rather than Marseille which is not a great team.
Afterwards, I'm happy for Lens but I'm especially happy to be in front of them (
laughs
).
If Lille is champion, what do you do?
It is a blow to finish in underwear on the Grand-Place.
It will normally be after the restaurants reopen so that's good.
But hey, there are still three games to play so we should not get excited even if it's hard.
The guys made us vibrate, they make us cry with joy now.
If we win the title this year, we'll talk about it again in ten years.
We don't have the weapons to fight each season against Paris, Lyon, Monaco… You have to know how to seize the moment.
Besides, what would be the ideal menu to celebrate the title of Losc?
But if Lille is champion, I don't eat for a week!
We'll drink lots of beers.
More seriously, I did not think about it because we have a way of working which means that we cannot anticipate the menus in advance.
After home, all the products are local.
It won't be hard to find a story.
In any case, we'll do something, that's for sure.
Sport
RC Lens-Losc: How the supporters of the two clubs are preparing this so special derby
Sport
"100% Lille": An ultra decisive derby, a team of records and Mike Maignan
Soccer
RC Lens
League 1
Derby
Lille
Sport