Denis Genreau has lit up the Isuzu UTE A-League since returning to Australia from Europe. The Melbourne Victory star speaks to aleagues.com.au about overcoming adversity, the role of family and his Socceroos desire.
Life as a footballer. It’s not always as glamorous as it’s perceived to be. The reality is different. Just ask Denis Genreau.
Genreau has returned to the Isuzu UTE A-League with Melbourne Victory, thriving and playing himself back into Socceroos contention after a difficult spell abroad.
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The 26-year-old made the move to second-tier Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna on a two-and-a-half-year contract in January following a successful four-year stint with Toulouse in France, but it did not go according to plan almost from the word go.
He was told to leave. It rocked Genreau, who made just nine appearances for the 2000 LaLiga champions.
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“Probably one of the hardest moments in my career,” Genreau told aleagues.com.au ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster Melbourne Derby against reigning champions Melbourne City – his first.
“I was doing well in Toulouse. I wasn’t playing in the start of season, and then towards November, December, January, I started playing a lot and there was a few injuries. So I thought this is a good chance for me to get a move, because there was only six months left on my contract.
“Then Deportivo came in. They said that they needed a midfielder. They saw my last games, and they offered me a lot of things, promised me a lot of things and when I got there, it didn’t end up being anything like that.
“I came back for pre-season, ready to go and I’m told to leave. So for me and my family that just moved, it was very, very difficult for me as well, because I invested a lot of time in the off-season to be in best shape possible for the club.
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“Unfortunately, I wasn’t even able to show them what I could do, because I never got an opportunity to play.
“In the end, it’s the past, and it makes you stronger, but it definitely was a tough time, and even Toulouse, we had some great moments, but it was also a lot of tough times in that. I guess that’s the life of a footballer.”
Genreau had arrived from France, where he earned promotion to Ligue 1 and helped Toulouse win their first major trophy via the 2023 Coupe de France. It was a “special” time for him, though it wasn’t without its challenges.
That Deportivo experience left a mark on the Australian midfielder, but he has been able to make it through the other side thanks to help from a psychologist.
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“I work on the mental side of the game,” he said. “I have sport psychologists that follow me and watch all my games and everything.
“I speak to them a lot, especially in the tough times. But obviously, your family. I had my partner, my kids, so that really kept me through it and also just hard work.
“I think in the difficult moments, you just put your head down, you work hard, and you try and get the most out of it for yourself. That’s what I’ve always done. And then in the end, if that doesn’t change anything, then you try and force a move, or you try and change the situation yourself. I think that’s the only option he has as a footballer.”
With the support of his family, the father of two is rediscovering his love for football in Melbourne.
Genreau has been a standout for Victory this season. He has shown his versatility either as a six or a number 10 – that versatility he describes as both a “strength and also a weakness”. The player himself though favours the double-six position or an eight in a box-to-box role.
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The new signing has already opened his account for the 2024-25 runners-up as the four-time champions look to end a run of back-to-back Grand Final defeats this term.
His goal against Newcastle Jets in Round 2 was the midfielder’s first in a top-flight division since March 2021, when he was playing for Macarthur Bulls in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Has much changed since the last time he was in the A-Leagues? Genreau puts it ahead of Ligue2 in France.
“The level is very good,” Genreau said. “Physically, I think it’s even gone up a notch.
“It’s quite intense the games and there’s people that follow me on the mental side of the game, and they watch all my games in second division in France. We did a lot of work together. They started watching my games here – we’re still working together – and they said the level is very good.
“They were very surprised. And I said it’s probably better than the second division in France. So, I’m very happy with playing here, because it’s a good level and the league has improved, for sure.”
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A big reason Genreau is back in the Isuzu UTE A-League is the Socceroos.
He has not represented Australia since 2023, having been overlooked for the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar despite playing a role in the country’s qualification.
That pain still fuels Genreau with the 2026 showpiece on the horizon.
“I was gutted from that and it took some time to get over it,” recalled the six-time international.
“I was hungry, I was fully motivated, and I haven’t had the game time to be called up. And then now, obviously it’s a very important year and I want to play as much as possible to give myself the best chances of going.
“My family had already booked everything for the Qatar World Cup four years ago, so they were also devastated.
“There’s the drive, personal drive, but there’s also the family drive and I know how proud my parents and my family would be to see me in a Socceroos jersey. Doesn’t have to be the World Cup straight away.”
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Featured image: Melbourne Victory
