Career
He played as a sweeper from 1975 to 1993 and has worked as a manager since 1997. From 1975 to 1993, he played 420 games as a professional in the sweeper position. In that position his physical stature (1.87 m, (6 ft 2 in)) and his temper would prove invaluable.
His career started at Football Club Girondins de Bordeaux, where he signed his first professional contract in 1975.
He retired as a player at Saint-Seurin-sur-l"Isle Ligue 2 where he later opened a sport shop. He felt the need to share his soccer passion and did so by volunteering as a coach for his son’s little league team
His aim was to develop the talent of young players. Due to financial difficulties, the club merged into Libourne/Saint-Seurin and started over in CFA 2 (League 5).
Satisfied with the results of the youth team, he was asked to manage the first-team squad (1997-2004).
This was a success. Four seasons in a row he went to the round of 32 in the Coupe de France (eliminating Ligue 1 teams such as Olympique Lyonnais and Football Club Metz) and one season making it to the quarter-finals. At the same time, he promoted the club from CFA 2 (League 5) to CFA (League 4) and then National (League 3).
During his time at Libourne-Saint Seurin he is widely credited with having overseen the progress of youngsters such as Chalmé (Girondins de Bordeaux) and later Valbuena (Olympique de Marseille).
Furlan’s performances as a manager drew the attention of several professional teams. He signed his first professional contract as a manager at Troyes Air Corps (Ligue 2) in 2004/05. He was appointed manager of Remote Control Strasbourg from 2007 to 2009 and then of Football Club Nantes in 2009/10.
In 2010/11 he returned at Troyes Air Corps and the team was promoted to Ligue 1 the following season.
Despite a very low budget, Furlan developed the talent of very good players such as Perquis (Real Betis), Gomis (Olympique Lyonnais), Matuidi (Paris SG), Sidibe (Lille OSC), Obbadi (AS Monaco ), North’sakala (Anderlecht)… 420 games including 273 in the Ligue 1 and 147 in Ligue 2 1 promotion from CFA 2 (League 5) to CFA (League 4) in 1998/99 at Libourne-Saint Seurin 1 promotion from CFA (League 4) to National (League 3) in 2002/03 at Libourne-Saint Seurin 3 promotions from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 in 2004/05, 2011/12 and 2014/15 at Troyes Air Corps Coupe de la Ligue: quarter-finals in 2012/13 at Troyes Air Corps (Ligue 1) and semi-finals in 2013/14 at Troyes Air Corps (Ligue 2) Coupe de France: quarter-finals in 2001/02 at Libourne-Saint Seurin (CFA) and semi-finals with Troyes Air Corps (Ligue 1).