Jacques Santini

Jacques Santini
Santini with Saint-Étienne in 1974
Personal information
Full name Jacques Jean Claude Santini[1]
Date of birth (1952-04-25) 25 April 1952 (age 72)[2]
Place of birth Delle, France[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1964–1969 Fesches
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1981 Saint-Étienne 324 (50)
1981–1983 Montpellier 43 (4)
1983–1985 Lisieux (fr)
Managerial career
1983–1985 Lisieux (fr)
1985–1989 Toulouse
1989–1992 Lille
1992–1994 Saint-Étienne
1994–1995 Sochaux
1997–2000 Lyon (technical director)
2000–2002 Lyon
2002–2004 France
2004 Tottenham Hotspur
2005–2006 Auxerre
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  France (as manager)
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner 2003
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jacques Jean Claude Santini (born 25 April 1952) is a French former professional footballer and manager. He played for Saint-Étienne during the 1970s, and reached the European Cup final with them in 1976. He has coached the France national team - winning the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 - and clubs including Lyon.

Managerial career

Santini with Saint-Étienne in 1976

Santini is one of the most accomplished football managers in France. Together with Jean Michel Aulas and Bernard Lacombe he was involved in the transformation of Lyon into a French football giant. From 1997 to 2000 he was Sports' director, helping lay the foundation which resulted in Lyon becoming the best football club in France. As manager of Lyon from 2000 to 2002 he was winner of French League Cup in 2001, and in 2002 he won the French Championship.

Santini was chosen as "The best French coach" in 2002 by France Football and World's The Best National Coach of the Year in 2003 by International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Santini replaced Roger Lemerre as France manager in 2002.[3] He had already resigned from the position before Euro 2004, where France surprisingly lost to eventual champions Greece in the quarter-final.[4][5]

Santini took the managerial position at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur after Euro 2004.[6] He surprisingly announced his resignation after just 13 games.[7] Officially, Santini left England due to personal problems, but it was widely reported that a series of disagreements with then Sporting Director Frank Arnesen led to his departure.[8] Speaking in 2005, Santini said he quit partly because he felt agreements with the club were broken, but he admitted he "dug his own grave" by agreeing to join the club before the end of Euro 2004.[9]

He took the job of head coach of AJ Auxerre in Ligue 1 in 2005, but was sacked in 2006 due to his conflict with vice-president of Auxerre Guy Roux.[10][11]

On 23 June 2008, Santini was linked with the vacant managerial position at Scottish Premier League club Hearts but he refused the offer.[12]

Managerial statistics

Source:[citation needed]
Team Nat From To Record
G W L D Win %
Lyon France 1 July 2000 31 May 2002 106 55 27 24 51.88
France 21 July 2002 1 July 2004 28 22 2 4 78.57
Tottenham Hotspur England 3 June 2004 5 November 2004 13 5 4 4 38.46
Total 147 82 33 32 055.78

Honours

Player

Saint-Étienne

Manager

Lyon

France

References

  1. ^ "Entreprise J 2 S Consulting à la Talaudière (42350)" [Company J 2 S Consulting in La Talaudière (42350)]. Figaro Entreprises (in French). 7 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
    "Jacques Santini". BFM Business (in French). NextInteractive. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Santini: Jacques Santini: Manager". BDFutbol. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Lyon's Santini named as new French coach". The Guardian. London. 19 July 2002. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  4. ^ Hayes, Alex (6 June 2004). "Jacques Santini of France: Exit the coach - but will he head for Tottenham as a champion?". The Independent. London. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  5. ^ "France 0-1 Greece". BBC Sport. 25 June 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Spurs appoint Santini". BBC Sport. 3 June 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Spurs in turmoil as Santini walks out". The Independent. London. 6 November 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2009.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ Bose, Mihir (6 November 2004). "Santini quits Spurs after power struggle". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  9. ^ "Bitter Santini hits out at Spurs". BBC Sport. 20 February 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Auxerre name Santini as new coach". BBC Sport. 7 June 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Coach Santini is sacked by Auxerre". CNN.com. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  12. ^ "Santini keen on Hearts". Sky Sports. 23 June 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
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