Jean-Marc Furlan, a former French football coach and player, has shared that he suffers from a neurodegenerative disease, which his wife, Cécile Traverse Furlan, believes may be linked to concussions he sustained during his playing career. This information is detailed in a book titled Jean-Marc Furlan, le don d'une vie, set to be published by Editions Amphora. The book explores how the disease has impacted Furlan’s personal and professional life. Furlan, who coached teams such as Troyes, Brest, Auxerre, and Nantes, was most recently with Caen until his dismissal in November 2023. Since his diagnosis, he has turned down all new coaching opportunities. According to Cécile Traverse Furlan, the disease has caused what a neurologist described as a form of egocentrism, leading to disinhibition and a lack of filters in Furlan’s behavior. This affected his time at SM Caen, where he was dismissed after thirteen matches due to poor results and a conflict with an assistant coach. His wife explained that the disease made him more direct and unfiltered in his communication, which clashed with the secretive and strategic nature of football management. Furlan’s wife described the disease’s impact on his social and professional life, noting that he has refused new challenges despite several invitations. She said, "The more stress entered him, the more he let go, like a torrent I could not stop." Furlan, who once described himself as a "frank and authentic" person, has been unable to continue coaching, as football was the only thing that interested him in life. The book is prefaced by Raphaël Varane, a 2018 World Cup champion and former player, who agreed to write the introduction to "alert as many people as possible about the still too confidential risks that concussions and heading the ball can cause in a footballer's life, and by extension, in the lives of their loved ones." Varane, who has also suffered from concussions during his career, supports Furlan’s efforts to raise awareness about the long-term effects of head injuries in football.