Life Inspiration: Reject to All-star (Antoine Griezmann)

Kimi Teo
Feb 13, 2017
3 min read

In the world of competitive sports, there had been many inspirational sport-stars who had rose from rags to riches, from unknown to superstars. Today when we speak about the next brightest star, we couldn't miss out the French, Antoine Griezmann.

At 25 years old, Griezmann was the La Liga best player 2016, French Best player 2016, top scorer and Player of the Tournament at UEFA Euro 2016. Griezmann also won 3rd in Ballon d'Or 2016 Award, behind the great Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

When we see his dazzling moments now, it is hard to imagine the Griezmann was a rejected player in his youth.

At the age of 13, Griezmann already possessed strong technical skills. However, he was also very short and lacking physique. One thing for certain was that Griezmann has always dreamed of being a professional football player.

Griezmann had went for trial with top French clubs like Lyon, Metz, Saint-Etienne, Sochaux and Auxerre. Yet he was turned down by all because he was deemed too small and lightweight to play in professional football. This was despite the fact that he was doing well in the trial.

In other words, professional scouts in his country could see that Griezmann was skilled but they believed that he did not have potential to develop into a professional player. We have to understand that this was in an era where French club believed the ideal players were tall and athletic (eg. Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès).

Imagine what you would felt like at 13 years old if numerous professionals had said that you just don't have the potential to be a football player. It must have been devastating. Other kid might have chosen an alternative dream but not Antoine Griezmann.

Griezmann only wants to be a football player and he knew that since a young age.

2004 France squad of mostly tall and athletic players

A miracle happened when Griezmann was in a youth trial match with Montpellier organized by another French club Paris St Germain.

Eric Olhats, a scout from Spanish club Real Sociedad, happened to stop by at France to visit a friend. Olhats had just touched down from a scouting trip in Argentina and was not even in France to do any scouting.

Olhats turned up at the match to meet-up with his friend. That was when Antoine Griezmann was subbed into the match and played for only 10 minutes.

It was the turning point in his football dream.

Olhats fell for his technical talents and intuition in front of goal.

Olhats contacted both Montpellier and Paris St Germain scouts, both of which were all not interested in the young Antoine Griezmann. It might have been another rejected trial for Griezmann if not for Olhats's impromptu visit.

As Olhats puts it bluntly “I knew the youth-scouting criteria at that time, in France at least, were mainly related to athletic and physical abilities, And Antoine did not fit into that at all. In Spain, I knew that we were more into letting time take its course. If I had worked for a club other than Real Sociedad, I don't think they would have taken Griezmann on their books."

Olhats believed in the talent of Griezmann and managed to get Real Sociedad to sign for this 13 year old French. It was unconventional for a club to sign a foreign 13 year old talent but Olhats had convinced the club.

It was the only path for Griezmann ha to be a footballer at that time.

Griezmann ended up moving into Olhats's house at the border of France (Bayonne) to attend french school. He had to travel across the border to San Sebastian for training with the Spanish club. For 4 years, he was living together with Olhats's family.

Leaving his family, friends, learning a foreign language and adapting to a different environment at that age was not an easy decision. Griezmann suffered from home sickness but he persisted.

It was a sacrifice he took to reach his dream.

A 18 years old Griezmann subsequently made his debut for Real Sociedad, and becoming a key player in the next 5 years with them. Subsequently in 2014, Griezmann completed a £24m move to another Spanish club Atletico Marid and he has been a striker to be reckoned with ever since.