"There is Didier Deschamps, there is Zinédine Zidane ... and there is Christophe Galtier."
The words of Bixente Lizarazu, in mid-February on
Téléfoot
, reflect the general thinking well.
Behind the 2018 World champion with the Blues and the triple winner of the Champions League with Real Madrid, the Lille has established himself as the best French coach, the one whose results, the game, the ability to manage are praised. his group, but also whose character we appreciate, the way of communicating.
His peers have dubbed him by rewarding him with the title of best coach in Ligue 1 in 2018-2019.
Overall, he is preferred to Rudi Garcia, yet capable of taking Olympique Lyonnais to the semi-finals of the Champions League and Olympique de Marseille to the final of the Europa League, but who never made it to achieve unanimity;
probably the fault of a lack of regularity in major meetings and an attitude considered - rightly or wrongly - too plaintive.
Speaking of Rudi Garcia, Jean-Michel Aulas would also like to replace him ... by his counterpart from the North.
In any case, that's what revealed
Le Parisien
this week.
“My priority will go to LOSC in the discussions that I will have soon.
I want to confirm, but really, that there was no exchange between Mr. Aulas, Juninho, and my professional environment or myself.
None, none, none, ”Christophe Galtier reacted to a press conference on Friday.
But the lack of contact between the two parties does not mean that OL are not interested in the one who occupied the post of assistant coach in Lyon with Alain Perrin in 2007-2008.
In the event that he does not continue with LOSC, the Rhone club should not be the only one to position themselves to recruit him.
It must be said that the native of Marseille has a very nice CV, which makes him the tricolor technician in fashion.
"READ ALSO - The title, the defeat in the Coupe de France, the rumors of departure ... Christophe Galtier confided in before the shock against PSG
Results that speak for him
After several experiences as an assistant - in Marseille, Salonika, Bastia, Al-Ain, Portsmouth, Sochaux, Lyon and Saint-Etienne - Christophe Galtier obtained his first head coach stripes with the Greens in December 2009. A rank which didn't turn out to be too big for him.
In Forez, the former Olympique de Marseille and Téfécé player brought the Saint Etienne club back to the top table, finishing fifth in Ligue 1 in 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 and fourth in 2013-2014.
Better still, under his orders, ASSE won its first trophy since 1981 - outside Ligue 2 - by lifting the Coupe de la Ligue in 2013. In Lille, he led the Mastiffs to second place in the ranking in 2018-2019, in fourth position the following year.
This year, his team, which occupied the first place for long days, can still believe in its chances of winning the title of champion of France.
She is currently in second position, tied on points with the Parisian leader she faces this Saturday, at 5 pm, in the shock of this 31st day of the championship.
The only downside, despite a great feat at San Siro with LOSC, he has not yet distinguished himself in Europe.
When AS Saint-Etienne and Christophe Galtier won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2013
A real builder
What also pleases are the contexts in which these good results have been obtained.
Whether in Saint-Etienne or Lille, Christophe Galtier inherited a team in great difficulty.
Each time, he came to play the firefighter on duty.
And each time, after extinguishing the fire, he managed to rekindle the flame.
A new style of firefighter-arsonist in a way.
When he takes up his duties with the Greens at the end of 2009, the club is fighting for maintenance.
He saves him from relegation then season after season hoists him up to European places.
In Lille, rebelote.
He replaces Marcelo Bielsa, barely snatches the maintenance in 2017-2018, before touching the tops with a second place in the following exercise.
The French technician is a builder, as there are few, capable of building something solid on shaky foundations;
to develop a medium-term project without having inordinate financial means or the best players.
At ASSE, he performed well without having the best budget in the championship, even if he could count on excellent elements such as Loïc Perrin, Kurt Zouma or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
With LOSC, he finds himself in the fight for the title with Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais (and AS Monaco) whose numbers on paper seem much more competitive.
Christophe Galtier does not rely on exceptional individualities.
His players may be weaker than others, but his team can be better.
He is a leader of men who knows how to create a real collective, unite around values and a real identity of the game as well as adapt to the characteristics of his players.
This type of coach, who does not need large investments to perform, is very popular, even more in times of austerity.
»READ ALSO - Fight for the title, race for Europe: the crazy day of Saturday in Ligue 1
A valued personality
His good popularity rating, the 54-year-old technician also owes it to his personality.
Christophe Galtier is a man appreciated in the ecosystem: “In the world of football, there are twisted, there are bastards but there are also people who prove that it is worth being in this environment.
This is the case of Christophe, explained a few months ago to
20 Minutes
Bernard Caïazzo, its former president.
He is truly a trustworthy and caring person.
Fortunately there are people like that in football. "
He also enjoys a good image with many followers.
Very comfortable in front of the cameras and the microphones, the ex-defender is not a big follower of the language of wood, as last December when he castigated the actions of
Mediapro
and Jaume Roures in particular: “The responsible, we know him, he has a name and a face.
Let him stop talking, let him disappear visually and publicly, ”he said.
It is undoubtedly in part this frank and authentic side of the necklace that makes it sympathetic.
All his qualities have allowed him to shine and be appreciated in France.
Will he be able in the coming years to export his talents abroad?
For example across the Channel, where his dream of leading the Liverpool Reds could come true?
Read also
The title, the defeat in the Coupe de France, the rumors of departure ... Christophe Galtier confided in before the shock against PSG
Lille: Galtier has a secret dream ... Coach (one day) Liverpool