They are between 30 and 45 years old.
They are French, Belgian-English or even Australian.
They have already played in Ligue 1, even in their selection, or simply never in the professional world.
Their names are Patrick Kisnorbo, Will Still and Romain Pitau.
You don't know them?
Coach respectively in Troyes, Reims and Montpellier, they are the new faces of Ligue 1.
Kisnorbo, the call of the open sea
He is simply the only Australian to coach in all five major leagues.
The former Socceroos international (18 caps), notably passed through Leicester or Leeds, does not speak a word of French.
No need, he has a perfect command of body language.
The ex-defender with an imposing physique easily punches the table in the locker room.
"The more you work, the more I will love you," he told his players after the victory against Strasbourg (3-2) for his second match at the head of the Trojans.
All this, for his first experience at a very high level, with an easy smile at a press conference: “I'm not going to snap my fingers and it will be perfect.
Players need time to get used to me.
(…) But I am happy to do my job here in Troyes.
»
Patrick Kisnorbo and ESTAC is also the story of an arranged marriage.
Coach of Melbourne City, a satellite club of the Football City Group linked to Pep Guardiola's Manchester, of which Troyes is also a part, the 41-year-old Australian technician had to leave his team during the season, when it was in first position with 16 points in six days, to reach Aube at the end of November.
“He was on the City Group shortlist.
The track has been validated with the shareholders.
The name was given to us a bit.
It is a collective decision.
We have been following him for a year and a half, ”breathes François Vitali, sports director of ESTAC.
Kisnorbo had even known everything with Melbourne, starting with a championship title with the women in 2018 for his first season,
First victory of the year and strong words from coach PK 🗣️🫡#TeamESTAC 💙 pic.twitter.com/Tq0Aqnh5cf
— ESTAC Troyes (@estac_officiel) January 3, 2023
In short, a success that the new coach of Troyes has passed on to his players for the moment.
With 4 points in two games including a last victory in Strasbourg (3-2), the former Australia defender bet on continuity by aligning the same 11 in both games, and a flawless union of his group .
"It contrasts enormously with his predecessor Bruno Irlès, in terms of relations with his players but also in the game. He went directly to 4 defenders wanting to have possession of the ball", deciphers Christophe Mallet, ESTAC specialist for
the game.
'East Lightning
.
The "hugs" between the players and the staff are also instituted before each start of training.
“We went for a different culture, a rather Australian managerial approach, but with a football approach linked to the City Group”, details the Trojan sports director.
A true warrior, but with principles.
Reims has found its Still
Will Still has a little more experience.
With now seven matches in Ligue 1, the Belgian-English coach has even managed to be undefeated since his arrival, with in particular a victory against Rennes (3-1) as a high point.
However, Still is the youngest coach of the five major championships.
At 30, he would make his captain Yunis Abeldhamid (35) pass for an old man.
A real winning bet for Stade Rémois which had given him 5 games to win his place: “The situation is special, but it only inspires me with the desire to win the next five games.
(…) I will not change or take myself for another.
I am Will, it is very good like that “, had launched the ex-assistant of Oscar Garcia.
🎥 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗖 𝟭-𝟭 𝗦𝗗𝗥
The summary of the meeting & the @WStill14 press conference to be found around here ⤵️
— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) January 3, 2023
But then where does this gifted coaching come from?
A big fan of Football Manager, Will Still quit his physio studies at the age of 17 to train in coaching at Myerscough College in Preston.
“He likes to show 2D visuals, much like in-game, but he's a long way from being a computer-trainer.
You just have to see him lead a training session to understand that not everything comes out of Football Manager, ”describes Luka Elsner, coach of Le Havre to whom Will Smith was the assistant at Standard de Liège.
A fan of data, the Belgian-Englishman began his career as a video analyst in Saint-Trond, in Belgian D2 in the summer of 2014. After spending time with Lierse, Beerschot or even Standard de Liège, Still continued between positions at the video, as assistant, interim, and even main coach in D1 where he becomes the youngest coach in history.
At 30, the one who has touched a career as a player from afar with a move to the Belgian fourth division, has already known the staff of at least five clubs.
“Even if 30 years old is incredible in Ligue 1, you have to look above all at his experience as a coach.
The truth is that he has been part of the staff for more than 8 years, ”recalls Luka Elsner.
His other strong point: his relationship with the players.
Familiarity with players and repeated jokes in addition to good results,
Romain Pitau at home
It is the best known of the three.
With 336 Ligue 1 matches, Romain Pitau even appears to be a taulier in this list, but also trains his first team at the top level.
With his hair falling on his forehead, and his number 14 on his back, the new Montpellier coach was still more used to controlling the midfield rather than watching it all from the sidelines.
Like during his last season with the pros in the Hérault where he gave a recital against Schalke in the Champions League which earned him some nicknames like the "French Pirlo".
Nevertheless, he transcribes his principles as a player to that of a coach.
“I prefer to play higher up the field to have a higher conservation game rather than in front of our 18 meters and where the slightest loss of the ball would immediately put us in danger.
100% Paillade
.
🎙️ Romain Pitau's reaction
⚡️#MHSCOM 1-2 pic.twitter.com/wTCXKBCPzP
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) January 2, 2023
Son of Éric-Victor Pitau, field hockey player for France at the 1972 Olympics, the player trained in Lens, passed through Nice or Sochaux with whom he played more than 200 matches, ended up putting his valid in Montpellier in 2009 where he ended his career.
Now at home at La Paillade, Pitau discovered the joys of the bench with the U14s and then the reserve team.
“Choosing him was in the spirit of the club.
He is part of the generation of coaches who go through training.
It's a wonderful school.
He took time to learn his trade,” explains Henri Stambouli, the former director of the Montpellier training center.
After Olivier Dall'Oglio was laid off on October 17, he was appointed on an interim basis for at least four games.
Despite two defeats then two draws, the former Sochalien was confirmed by Laurent Nicollin.
With 5 points taken out of 18 possible since his arrival and only one victory against Lorient (2-0), the Montpellier coach must do better.
“We must not forget the weakness of his workforce but he is a sage.
He's not going to yell at everyone.
He has the mentality to resist the pressure of the four descents”, promises Henri Stambouli.
With 4 points ahead of the red zone, the MHSC can count on its quiet strength.