Moroccan Soccer Star Romain Saiss Recalls Humble Beginnings Washing Dishes

The player signed a professional contract (21 years old) late with the Clermont-Ferrand club. Long before that, he was earning around 500 euros a month when he played for the Valence club, we read in the confidences reported by the "Express & Star" website. This amount barely allowed him to pay for the gas to get to his games and he therefore had to make ends meet to finish his months. "When I was young, I saw my parents work very hard," he explains. I therefore worked in my father’s restaurant to help him. I was allowed to wash the dishes and distribute the menus."

For this task, his father gave him a little money. "It was important to know what real work is because it was very difficult to work. I did it for several years. Regularly, I had to come back after training and stay with my 5-year-old brother to take care of him. I did babysitting."

The Franco-Moroccan player now recognizes himself as very lucky. "I remember my parents going to the restaurant at 6pm and coming back very early the next morning. It was very difficult, that’s why I’m very lucky to play football. In addition, I do what I love."

Now 29 years old, he thanks his parents for the education they gave him. "Thanks to them I am a fighter. They worked so hard and my wife’s parents too, that’s why I appreciate much better what I have in my possession today."

For Romain Saïss, only hard work pays off. "You have to work, work and work some more. I know that work is very important and I never forget my goals. Even at school, when my teachers told me to forget about football, I never forgot."

This fighting mentality, Romain wants to have it to the end so as not to have any regrets. "I do everything to make sure I give my best. I don’t want to have any regrets because a career in football is very short."