Colin Abgrall 9:00 p.m., April 23, 2022
President of the Stade de Reims since 2004, member of the board of directors of the Professional Football League and treasurer of the union of Ligue 1 clubs, Jean-Pierre Caillot is the exceptional guest of Europe 1 Sport.
He answered this Saturday questions from journalist and editorialist Jacques Vendroux and Cyrille de la Morinerie.
EXCLUSIVE
On the eve of the match between Stade de Reims and Olympique de Marseille, the 60-year-old manager, who combines three functions in French football, gave an exclusive interview to Europe 1. He talks about his genesis as a president, his functions within the League and the union but also the finances of the French championship as well as the television rights of this one before ending on the future of its best elements.
How did he arrive in football and become president of Reims: "Football was my passion."
"It started in a schoolyard where I tended to take myself for Carlos Bianchi. In fact, it's a passion. Football was my passion. I became a business manager. I I was asked by Fabrice Harvey, the commercial director of the Stade de Reims, to join me in the adventure. In 2002, the club returned to Ligue 2. Unfortunately, it finished twentieth and under the impetus of a certain number of my fellow local and regional business leaders and in relation to the results I had in corporate football, I was approached saying that it might take someone like me to run the club.
It didn't take much pushing for me to be on the front line.
I therefore asked my predecessor (Christophe Chenut) to become a shareholder and to take the presidency.
A delegate presidency at the start.
There was a lot of pressure and a great expectation from supporters in the four corners of France, to see the Stade de Reims reborn a little, which had, I remind you, left the division of honor (in 1992).
We had a year when we took the title of National (in 2004) and at the end of this title of National, as he had promised, my predecessor let me take the presidency and therefore since then, I am president of this venerable institution with ups and downs in Ligue 2, and a return to Ligue 1, 33 years later, in 2012.
On the expansion of the Auguste Delaune stadium: "This stadium needs to be adapted"
We are ready to go down to 18,000 so that our spectators are in better conditions to watch football matches.
Let's never forget that we are organizers of shows."
On Reims' return to the European Cup (in 2020, preliminary round of the Europa League): "It only brings back good memories"
"Being president of a club for 20 years is a lot of trouble and from time to time, great moments of happiness. When, 33 years later, we return to Ligue 1, it's a very strong moment. When, 57 years later, you return to Europe, it's wonderful because it brings back only good memories to all the people who knew him or who heard about him from their parents or grandparents. we liked it so much that there was a match at Delaune, we would obviously have been sold out. It would have been something big and it made us want to. And that's why we want to go back in the coming years."
How he manages the combination of functions: "My colleagues do not seem to complain about it"
being the oldest president behind my friend Jean-Michel Aulas gives me some credibility compared to a number of my colleagues who have arrived.
It seemed appropriate to a certain number of my colleagues, that it be me who carries their voice first to avoid that everyone expresses themselves in all directions and on all subjects.
This is how I found myself president of presidents.
It is a source of pride for me and a priori, my colleagues do not seem to complain about it."
expresses in all directions and on all subjects.
This is how I found myself president of presidents.
It is a source of pride for me and a priori, my colleagues do not seem to complain about it."
expresses in all directions and on all subjects.
This is how I found myself president of presidents.
It is a source of pride for me and a priori, my colleagues do not seem to complain about it."
CVC Capital Partners will inject one and a half billion euros into the coffers of French football.
"Is French football saved? Football must be restructured"
other nations nearby.
What is needed is to restructure football.
It is being put in place.
All clubs must have a place, but there must be strong clubs which, every year, shine on the European stage."
On the match against Olympique de Marseille: "Reims has made a specialty of annoying the big clubs"
what makes me happy when we resume our nine years of Ligue 1, is that the Stade de Reims has made it a specialty to annoy the big clubs.
We did it again last Wednesday by beating the outgoing champions (Lille) and historically, these are teams that have done us quite well."
His view of Marseille in the Conference League: "I hope they will win this European Cup"
"I will be a supporter of Olympique de Marseille. It is essential for French football to have locomotives and Marseille is one of them. And I hope not only that they will beat Feyenoord, but that they will win this European Cup."
Is PSG a good champion?
"It's a chance for French football"
welcome these players and give them dreams.
You just have to see the number of kids who are leaving the hotel when they come to play against another club."
On broadcasters, Amazon and Canal +: "Everyone will become wise again when the time comes"
internet) broadcasts the championship.
Today, it is unavoidable.
I think they do a good job.
The championship is highlighted, so having these two competing is good for everyone."
On fan issues: "We're working very well"
they did not want to take their children to the stadium.
We created at least that, with animations, games.
We want families to come and meet in the stadium.
So we try to do everything to make it go well.
Recently, a journalist from Médiapart heard and filmed, supposedly, a racist cry in the stadium.
We found the person who said that.
We got him banned from the stadium and now, when he says something stupid, he will think before saying it.
We're not letting anything go."
got banned from the stadium and now, when he says something stupid, he will think before saying it.
We're not letting anything go."
got banned from the stadium and now, when he says something stupid, he will think before saying it.
We're not letting anything go."
On the future of Yunis Abdelhamid: "Yunis will leave for two years"
"He has become such an important element today that we have done everything, when he is at the end of his contract, to ensure that he stays with us. He is a reasonable boy, he has a reasonable family and therefore we have reached an agreement that we will soon formalize. And Yunis will leave for two years with the Stade de Reims."
On Wout Faes' future: 'He's going to grow up somewhere else'
“Our recruitment unit and our general management are more than 100 meetings away from the top sporting directors and the top agents in Europe on the players we are considering possibly selling. He is a boy who has been sold a project, who came here for two years to take a step forward. Proof of this is that he is now on the lists of the Belgian team. He was supposed to do two years at the Stade de France, he did them. He will grow up somewhere else."
On the future of Hugo Ekitike: "He would waste time going with us"
"He's a boy who has extraordinary qualities and I think we're going to make a small difference compared to what we generally do, to take a youngster very slowly, bring him into the team, grow with our team for a few years and then go somewhere else. In Hugo's case, he would waste time staying with us. We refused a request for 35 million euros this winter, which is still a lot of money for a club like ours. This money will help us grow, continue to improve the club and Hugo has a good exit. He will probably go out. I don't have a big club that hasn't come information."