"I left everything on the pitch at Troyes"

How do you look back on a career that took you from Bayern's reserves to the San Siro? Philipp Ambronn, now 38 and coaching Torino's Under-20s, has no regrets. We sat down with him in Turin.

It's a crisp December morning at Torino's training ground. Ambronn arrives in a club tracksuit, still carrying the lean frame of a midfielder who covered every blade of grass. He greets us with a warm smile, his Bosnian accent softened by years in France and Italy.

**You played for 13 clubs. Which one feels like home?**

"Troyes, without a doubt. I spent eight seasons there, played 273 league games. The fans, the city, the way we fought every weekend—that's where I became the player I was. I left everything on the pitch at Troyes."

**You won the Ligue 2 title with them in 2055/56. What do you remember from that season?**

"The noise in the stadium when we clinched it. We had a group that refused to lose. The promotion was for the people. They had waited so long. I still watch the videos sometimes."

**Before Troyes, you had a strange spell at Nantes: two league games in five years, but a Trophée des Champions and a French Cup.**

"Those were strange years. I played a lot for the reserve team, which kept me sharp. But I was part of the squad, and I celebrated those trophies as much as anyone. The Cup final in 2047—I was on the bench, but I ran onto the pitch like a kid. That's football; you take the moments."

**You also helped Sochaux win Ligue 2 in 2047/48. What was that loan like?**

"I needed games, and Sochaux gave me that. 29 matches, five goals. It was a good year. The club had a clear plan, and I fitted in well. Winning the title there gave me confidence to move to Heerenveen and then to Troyes."

**Then came Milan. 146 games, 21 goals. How different was that pressure?**

"At Milan, you have to win every match. It's heavy, but I loved it. The fans expect so much. I played with world-class teammates, and we competed for trophies every season. I didn't win a Scudetto, but I gave my best."

**You finished your playing days with Freiburg and Bologna. Was it hard to stop?**

"My body told me it was time after the 2061/62 season. I had a good run at Freiburg, then a short spell at Bologna. When you can't train at your best, you know. I wanted to coach, so I did my badges and got the Torino job in July 2062."

**What's your coaching philosophy?**

"I focus on the mental side. Young players have talent, but they need to understand the game, to stay calm under pressure. I like a 4-3-3 with a defensive midfielder who can read the play. But it's about the players, not the system."

**You earned 112 caps for Bosnia. What did that mean to you?**

"Everything. Representing my country was an honour I never took for granted. 18 goals, many memories. I hope to coach the national team one day, but that's a long way off."

**Your old club Troyes are in Ligue 1 now. Do you follow them?**

"Of course. They sold a goalkeeper to Ajaccio recently—Vidal, I think. I wish him well. Troyes will always be my club. When I'm free, I watch their games on television. The Stade de l'Aube is special."

**Finally, any regrets?**

"No. I played 645 club games, scored 95 goals, won trophies. I lived my dream. Now I'm helping young players live theirs. That's enough."

Ambronn checks his watch—training starts soon. He shakes hands firmly, a man at peace with his past and excited by his future.