“I live life to the fullest and take what it offers. This is my philosophy now.“
FANS, FASHION AND FOOTBALL
Growing up in the Parisian suburbs, the imposing cathedral of the Parc des Princes loomed large over SAINTCHAZ.
It was love at first sight when his father took him to his first game at the stadium, where he watched his heroes hypnotised by their artistry on the pitch and the wall of noise that surrounded him.
The game truly took hold of Chaz amid Euro 2000, a tournament where France’s golden generation of Zidane and Henry defeated Italy in the final to bring the trophy home. It was however the Dutch and not Les Bleus that would leave a lasting impression on Chaz.
Inspired by the prowess of Edwin van der Sarr, Chaz soon set his sights and his heart on becoming a goalkeeper, leaving home at a young age to pursue his dreams with Rennes and Le Havre.
It would be an adventure that would eventually lead him to become one of Europe’s most exciting photographers who captures the essence of football culture.
His travels have taken him to the Santiago Bernabeu and Seville, where he captured the likes of Vincious Junior, and Sergio Ramos. His work takes in the full emotion of fans, fashion and football, with each vintage image as timeless as the next.
The Atlantic Dispatch was delighted to sit down with Chaz as he told his journey so far and why it is that Zinedine Zidane inspires his work
LE HAVRE IS A CITY THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Paris. I left my family at a very young age to pursue my dream of becoming a footballer. It was during these days that I trained with Rennes and Le Havre for three years as I looked to make my mark as a goalkeeper
Le Havre is a city that means a lot to me. It’s where I grew up and became a young man. I met incredible coaches, educators, and people.
My father was a huge football fan. From a very young age, he took me to the Parc des Princes to watch Paris Saint Germain.
That’s when I fell in love with the sport and knew I wanted to make it my career. I had talent, so I signed with the Le Havre Academy, one of the best in France.
I played as a goalkeeper, and Le Havre is renowned for its expertise in training goalkeepers.
They’ve produced many greats like Steve Mandanda, Nicolas Douchez, and Brice Samba. I stayed there for three years and learned a lot.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE IS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR ME
After my football career, I graduated to become a goalkeeping coach. Later, I coached at a club in Paris, Paris Alesia FC.
My director, Ferhat, was a photographer, and he was the one who introduced me to photography.
It was a real revelation for me. I immediately fell in love with it. I didn’t know if I wanted to make it my profession, but I knew I wanted to practice it as much as possible.
Johan Cruijff once said, “Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.” The purity of simplicity is something I try to apply in my art.
Zinedine Zidane is a source of inspiration for me. He elevated the simplest things when he played—his way of controlling the ball, his handling, his movements… It was sublime!
THIS IS MY PHILOSOPHY NOW
I recently had the honour of shooting the launch of La Havre’s home and away kits for the 2024/25. This for me, was clearly the best moment of my career. The history I have with this club is just incredible; it was an unforgettable time.
I’m lucky with my work that I get to travel the world, and I’m fortunate enough to live in Paris, which, for me, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There’s so much to discover here; culturally, it’s incredible.
Away from work, there is so much that I like to do. I love music, especially jazz at the moment.
I’ve always tried to plan my life, but surprises have always come my way. So now, I live in the present moment. I live life to the fullest and take what it offers. This is my philosophy now.
All images by Saint Chaz.
You can follow Chaz on social media here