Jean-Marc Furlan Suffering from Neurodegenerative Disease, Wife Breaks Silence

Jean-Marc Furlan is suffering from a neurodegenerative disease, revealed by his wife Cécile Traverse Furlan in a book released on October 1st. The former head coach of Troyes, Brest and Auxerre left the Stade Malherbe Caen bench on November 7, 2023, seemingly bringing his career to a definitive end.

According to Cécile Traverse Furlan’s account, the condition was very likely caused by concussions sustained during her husband’s playing career, aggravated by the intensity of the coaching profession. Furlan, 68, was already showing visible signs during his time at Caen: an “euphoria” and “exalted mood” linked to his treatment had alerted several players at the club.

“It was very violent. It’s one of the difficult moments because seeing the person you love being pushed around becomes unbearable over time,” his wife confides. “At Caen, he was doing somersaults more or less consciously to hide things. It works for a while, but the string becomes too thick quickly.”

Cécile Traverse Furlan describes how the disease took hold of a man known for his authenticity and outspokenness. “In this sterile world where everyone is careful not to deviate from a word, that was appealing. The problem is that this disease thrived on such a person. The more stress entered him, the more he let loose, like a torrent I couldn’t stop.”

It was this same lucidity that led the coach’s wife to accept the inevitable. “I understand that everything must end. I feel that the dikes are breaking on several fronts, particularly disinhibition and lack of filters, in an environment where that is strictly forbidden,” she writes. Her book is both a personal testimony and a rare insight into the long-term neurological consequences of concussions in football.