After a summer dedicated to international competitions (African Cup of Nations, Copa America), the championships resume their rights. And, among them, the Ligue 1 and his lot of contenders behind the PSG, title holder. At their head, ambitious coaches. Newcomers Sylvinho and Jobard to the revanchists Villas-Boas and Tuchel, passing by the young and unknown Elsner, focus on five technicians whose performances will be particularly scrutinized this season on the banks of the championship of France.
• Thomas Tuchel (Paris St. Germain)
The first steps of Thomas Tuchel in Paris SG, between "happy management" and victories in series, had given the smile to the supporters of the club. But at the end of his first season, it was more the soup grimace Paris side. Only the title of champion of France came to liven up an exercise leaded by a lost French Cup final, a premature elimination in Cup of the League against Guingamp and, especially, a pitiful exit of road in the knockout of the Champions League .
Admittedly, Borussia Dortmund's former coach was not helped by Neymar's long-running injury, nor by the flaws in the recruitment of ex-sports director Antero Henrique, who was unable to reinforce a highly depopulated midfielder. But its record remains unflattering in terms of resources available. Tuchel, the fifth coach of the Qatari era PSG, is doomed to do (much) better.
• André Villas-Boas (Olympique Marseille)
It's the meeting between a depressed club, cut from any European Cup after a failed season (5th place in L1), and a coach presented as a gifted youngster in Porto, Chelsea or Tottenham, but who has not more occupied a sideline for a year and a half. Andre Villas-Boas, 41, will have a lot to do in Marseille, where the pressure is strong but the budget, reduced.
Forced to be austere because of an agreement with UEFA, OM have so far attracted only Spanish central defender Alvaro Gonzalez, loaned by Villarreal, and Argentine striker Dario Benedetto, all just arrived from Boca Juniors. And Villas-Boas can not count on Clinton Njie, Lucas Ocampos or Mario Balotelli, gone this summer.
• Sylvinho (Olympique Lyonnais)
The bet is risky and it bears the mark of Juninho: the new athletic director of Olympique Lyonnais, legend of the club in the 2000s, chose to entrust the keys of the team to his compatriot Sylvinho, novice to the post of head coach. The former Brazilian international has already rubbed the bench, but only as an assistant, especially at Inter Milan or as an assistant in Brazil.
His lack of experience "could be problematic" but he is a professional "very qualified, workaholic," said Gustavo Hofman, sports commentator on the channel ESPN Brasil. The former player of Arsenal and Barca knows his goals: "The president (Jean-Michel Aulas, Ed) asked me one thing: to be in the Champions League at the end of the season. for the other goals, you have to work. "
• Luka Elsner (Amiens SC)
After the departure of Christophe Pélissier, left in Lorient (Ligue 2), Amiens released an unexpected name from his hat: Luka Elsner, Franco-Slovenian 37 years old who exercised last season at Union Saint-Gilloise, a club of second Belgian division. Son of a former Nice player, where he grew up, the youngest Ligue 1 coach fired his weapons on the side of Domzale, Ljubljana (Slovenian D1) and Pafos (Cypriot D1).
During his presentation to the press, Elsner said that one should not "expect a revolution" in its way of doing things. "The CSA is a big family and working together is something that is fundamental to me," he said, referring to "an extraordinary project" that he started "with overwhelming enthusiasm". Elsner, a fan of Pep Guardiola ... and Napoleon Bonaparte, could be the good pick of the transfer window.
• Stéphane Jobard (Dijon FCO)
"He's a child of the club where for 30 years he has been a player, captain before being a youth coach or assistant.He just got his professional coaching certificate, I heard that the DFCO had lost his family values, we still have them. " With these words, the president of Dijon, Olivier Delcourt, introduced his new coach, Stéphane Jobard.
Engaged for two years with the Burgundy club, the 48-year-old technician is wearing the main trainer's dress for the first time, having been part of Rudi Garcia's squad last season in Marseille. He must give new life to Dijon, passed close to the relegation and now orphaned by Bobby Allain, Valentin Rosier or Chang-hoon Kwon.