GUIGOU Michael

General
RETIREMENT PLANS
He planned to retire following the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but after the Games were postponed he decided to continue playing for another year. He will be 39 when the Games take place in Tokyo in 2021. "Life is full of surprises. There are parameters that we do not control, such as this virus or the postponement of the Games. For my part, I have always tried to continue working, to have fun. Indeed, it should be my last season. But I take it all with philosophy. I do not close any doors." He has said he wants to become a coach or sporting director when he retires from handball. (mymagmontpellier.fr, 01 Jan 2020; sport24.lefigaro.fr, 14 Jan 2021; ledauphine.com, 11 Aug 2021)

NEW GENERATION
He is one of the few remaining players of France's previous generation of world and Olympic champions that dominated the international game, known as 'Les Experts'. "I'm convinced that the French players today should not be compared to the previous generation [Les Experts]. Today [2021], the team is different, the coaching staff is different, our opponents are different. So many things have changed, so it's impossible to compare. We shouldn't be comparing ourselves to anyone, we should be striving to write our own history. I have gone through a similar experience with my move to Nimes. When I was at Montpellier, we were always aiming for the title, but I've learnt to set my sights a little lower. But whether it's with Nimes or the French team, I know we are capable of beating anyone. That's the state of mind that we need to have, to believe that we are capable of big things, while always knowing that there is work to be done to aim higher." (sport24.lefigaro.fr, 14 Jan 2021)

CHANGE OF CLUB
In July 2019 he joined USAM Nimes from Montpellier, ending a spell of 20 years at Montpellier that saw him win 10 league championships and two European titles. He said he wanted to stay at the club but was told he was no longer wanted as part of the playing squad, and that he could either retire and become a coach at the team or leave the club. He chose to leave in order to continue playing before the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but said he felt that he had been treated unfairly by his former club. "It feels unjust, considering what I think I have brought to Montpellier. This distressing, somewhat pathetic attitude towards the old guard who have contributed to the destiny of the club is hard to understand." (sport24.lefigaro.fr, 02 Jul 2019)

LEADER
He was appointed as captain of the French national team in November 2020, ahead of the 2021 World Cup in Egypt and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (eurosport.fr, 04 Nov 2020)