Patrice Annonay, a former goalkeeper with Paris Saint-Germain between 2005 and 2016 - and currently assistant and goalkeeping coach at the capital club - reveals the secrets behind his charges' stunning form.
A true Paris Saint-Germain Handball legend, with no fewer than 333 matches for the capital club between 2005 and 2016, Patrice Annonay is a name that resonates strongly in the history of the capital club. After retiring from the game in 2021, the 44-year-old became a goalkeeping coach at his last club, Tremblay, before moving on to Paris 92 last season. So it was only natural that the Rouge et Bleu icon should return home this summer, as goalkeeping coach and assistant to Raul Gonzalez.
UNORTHODOX TRAINING
Patrice Annonay and Parisian goalkeepers Jannick Green and Andreas Palicka adapted quickly, to say the least; the Danish international currently tops Liqui Moly StarLigue in save percentage (37.13%). Patrice Annonay revealed to us the key to the capital club's defensive efficiency this season: a very special training regime.
"There are the Hecostix sticks, which we use to work on agility and cognitive aspects. We throw it before announcing the colour and the player then has to catch it by the nominated colour. There are also tennis balls, which, along with the racket, are used to work on ball speed and quickness, and a table tennis set. I change the objects each time so that they don't have that handball routine and so that they are more effective when they return to classic handball training. All this also allows us to modify the timing of parries. If the goalkeeper is good with these small objects, he's bound to be prepared for the handball."
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IMMEDIATE SUCCESS
Patrice Annonay's work was evident right from the start of the league season, with a record performance from Jannick. In the 37-27 win over Limoges on the opening day of the Liqui Moly Starligue, the Danish international made 19 saves, his best league performance since joining the capital club in the summer of 2022. It was a record that earned him a place in the Best 7 for the round, a performance he repeated two weeks later with 18 saves against Créteil (35-27). Andreas Palicka also stood out, during the trip to Chartres on Matchday 6 (27-34). The Swedish keeper put in his personal-best performance for Paris, making 17 saves.
"There's a little challenge that's developed among goalkeepers, with tennis balls. There's always that competitive side, and I have two great competitors with me. We have two very complementary goalkeepers who get on very well. There's healthy competition between them. They challenge each other but they often work together."
This healthy relationship is one of the keys to Paris' perfect record in the league this season. In addition to the good understanding between the goalkeepers, the originality and intensity of Patrice Annonay's training sessions are also a major factor. The Parisian assistant coach's philosophy is to vary the tone of his sessions so as to always satisfy his two protégés.
"We make the work quite fun, and yet we work pretty hard here. That's my philosophy. There's always a part where you work quite hard, and I like to break it up a bit with a more playful side."
One thing is certain, the Annonay method has quickly caught on at the capital club, and the iconic Parisian No.1 is undoubtedly one of the keys to Les Rouge et Bleus' defensive solidity in the early stages of the season.
(Credits: L. Valroff/Team Pics/PSG)