Roderic Filippi emblematic of fairytale Gazelec Ajaccio run of form

From mired in Ligue 1's basement to four victories on the trot, Corsican outfit Gazelec Ajaccio has quickly become one of Europe's better surprises, and much of it is owed to one of the continent's most unique footballers.

Football fans, please meet Roderic Filippi.

A cult hero at Stade Ange Casanova, the 26-year-old centre-back doesn't look like a top-flight footballer, and his ambitions are anything but typical.

His headed finish in a 3-1 victory over Nice was followed with a lumbering somersault to the amazement of the home supporters, hysterical that their island minnows had won their first top-flight match in the club's 105-year history.

They've gone on to win three straight against Bordeaux, Reims, and Bastia to sit 16th in the table.

Filippi, who joined rivals AC Ajaccio's youth setup in 2007 prior to signing his first professional contract with Gazelec in 2009, is a bone-crunching tackler on the pitch who enjoys life off of it.

The Seyne-sur-Mer-born defender doubts the long-term viability of his career, loves fast food, and has absolutely no intent of a post-playing career in the sport.

What does he want to do? Be a truck driver, of course.

"But my enjoyment in football, it's just to practice, I find it really annoying to watch," Filippi told French football magazine So Foot.

When asked what his football plans were for when he hangs up his boots, Filippi's response was far from formulaic.

"Oh no. I have already talked a lot with my family, for me it is unthinkable.

"In fact, I have a friend who is a supporter of Gazelec at the base, who told me about his job as a heavyweight driver, and I was immediately interested, both in the salary and the schedules.

"I'm already really informed, and the only thing that prevented me to do for now is that I must be free from eight to fifteen hours a month-and-a-half to pass the HGV license. I'll go to the end of my career. But nothing is fixed, that I may change my mind. I do not close the doors to professions as a mechanic or other."

The antithesis of the modern footballer, Filippi understands that a player's career is finite in nature, and that enjoying life off the pitch is as important as how he performs on it. When asked how he celebrated a recent victory, the robust defender was quite honest.

"I took three beers in three hours, to remain reasonable, while on my side, I also had a few whiskey and cokes (laughs)."

Roderic Filippi is both the footballer the world wants, and the one it so desperately needs.

Allez, Gazelec.

- With translation from theScore