Jérémy Sarre, sporting director of Limoges, hails from the city and has a strong connection to its basketball heritage. He previously played for Limoges’ Nationale III team and ASPTT, and honed his skills in Bordeaux (NM1) and Boulazac, guiding the latter from Pro B to Betclic Elite.
“When I was young, people often told me, ‘You’re good at basketball because your father is a coach; it’s easy, he trains you all the time.’ They don’t see the effort behind the scenes,” Sarre shared with France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine. “They link my success to my father, but I’ve forged my own path and worked hard. I have my own personality, though we share some common traits and also differences. I’m proud to acknowledge my father, but I also have my own journey and identity. It naturally leads me to places he’s been because he coached many clubs in France, and I do so with immense pride.”
For Sarre, returning to Limoges signifies a homecoming, and he is well aware of the unique environment.
“I believe Limoges has a passionate and demanding fanbase. Perhaps if I had come four or five years earlier, I wouldn’t have had the legitimacy for this role. I aim to draw from my experiences, retain the best aspects, and adapt them to this specific club with its particularities,” he told France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine.
Regarding recruitment strategy, he elaborated:
“We want players who complement each other, creating a cohesive unit. The market is more challenging now due to its globalization. Locally Developed Players (JFL) remain a regulatory requirement, but the pool is smaller because many of our young JFL talents are attracted to the NCAA. Consequently, there are fewer players available in this segment. One of our primary objectives was to secure our JFL core, which we’ve achieved through continuity, and we’re very pleased. We’re looking for a fifth JFL player and will then gradually add the remaining pieces to complete the puzzle.”
Jérémy Sarre: Limoges’ Passionate and Demanding Fanbase
Jérémy Sarre, the sporting director for Limoges, discusses his return to his hometown and the club’s distinctive atmosphere. He highlights the passionate yet demanding nature of the Limoges fanbase and reflects on his personal basketball journey. Sarre explains the club’s recruitment strategy, emphasizing the importance of player complementarity and securing Locally Developed Players (JFL), acknowledging the challenges posed by a globalized market and the allure of the NCAA for young talent.
English Translation:
Jérémy Sarre, Limoges’ Sporting Director: “Limoges has a passionate, demanding fanbase.”
Jérémy Sarre, like his father, was born in Limoges. He played for CSP’s Nationale III team and ASPTT, and then built his career in Bordeaux in NM1 and later in Boulazac, where he oversaw the transition from Pro B to Betclic Elite.
“It’s true that in the beginning, when I was little, people would say: ‘You’re good at basketball because your father is a coach, it’s easy, he trains you all the time.’ They don’t know what goes on behind the scenes,” he stated to France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine. “They do make that connection, saying that if there’s success, it’s due to my father. But I’ve had my own journey, I try to work hard, and I have my own personality. We naturally have common traits, but we also have differences. I am happy and proud to mention my father, but it’s also true that I have my own path, my own personality, and it’s my own journey. It inevitably leads me to places he’s been because he coached many clubs in France. However, I do so with great pride.”
For Jérémy Sarre, Limoges represents a return to his roots, and he is well acquainted with the very specific context.
“I think Limoges has a passionate and demanding fanbase. And I don’t know if, had I come four or five years earlier, I would have had the legitimacy to take this position. I will try to use these experiences, keep the best of everything, but also adapt it to an environment, to a club that is different with its own particularities,” he told France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine.
Regarding the recruitment strategy, he explained:
“We want there to be complementarity, for the pieces of the puzzle to fit together well. The market is indeed more complicated than before because it is increasingly globalized. Today, Locally Developed Players (JFL) remain a regulatory constraint. But the market is smaller due to the appeal of the NCAA for our young JFL players. In a way, there are fewer people in this market. One of our first objectives was to secure our JFL base. This has been achieved with continuity, and we are very pleased. We would like a fifth JFL player, and then we will finish building by adding the other pieces of the puzzle little by little.”
