A great setting for a great trophy. On Wednesday, Christophe Galtier was named 'Manager of the Year 2021' by the Club of Sport & Management Trophies directors. Between two training sessions, the Aiglons' boss travelled to Paris to receive the trophy awarded for his efforts in guiding LOSC to the French title last season.

"I've received some trophies in my coaching career, but to have the one of best manager, it's special, because managing is above all about the human aspect of the job," he told the audience. "It's about sharing. Managing is always connecting performance to the human side of things. If a person isn't happy, doesn't feel good, they can't be an athlete, a top-level player. I really love management because we evolve together in a human adventure. Of course, you have to take people with you, give off a calm aura, but above all be fair. You have to know who you have in front of you. And often, you find that out by going to look for it in places you didn't expect…"

"Last season, LOSC performed well. Of course, there were good players, well managed. There's the sporting side of things, the  players, the men, but there are also people around the team. The team behind the team, which puts in a huge amount of work. That one has to be managed with a lot of consideration. It starts with the ground staff who prepare our pitch, from seven in the morning, so that it's in tip-top condition. There's the masseurs, the doctors, the kit men…There's nearly 25 of us around the players. That's what management is about, you also have to perform well so that the athlete has only one thing to think about: their passion. Their sport. Their job."

* The 'Sports Manager' trophy is handed out by a jury (composed of its president, Patrice Hagelauer, the presidents of sports federations, company executives, and members of parliament) to a manager or coach who has succeeded in deploying an exemplary managerial project.

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