Lille coach Christophe Galtier has announced his departure from the club just a few days after winning the Ligue 1 title.
The Frenchman who joined Lille in 2017 after eight years at St Etienne led his side to their first league title in ten years over the weekend. They pipped PSG to the title on the last day of the season by one point.
And after achieving such an incredible feat, Galtier has now made his desire to leave known to the club.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Galtier revealed that he has already spoken with that club president Olivier Letang about his plan to move on after four years in Lille.
‘I informed my president… that I was going to leave’.
“I made my decision. I informed my president, Olivier Letang, after having listened to him a lot this morning, that I was going to leave LOSC. Or that I was stopping with LOSC, I do not know quite what term to use, Galtier told L’Equipe.
“I just feel strongly that I have done my time here. That four-year cycle is long enough for a coach. So yes, it’s only been five months that I collaborate every day with Olivier Letang and five months is not a lot for a collaboration.
“Having spent four years here, I feel inside that it’s time to leave this beautiful club, this magnificent club.”
He added: “My decision is not linked to the final ranking of the team; if we had finished fourth or seventh, I would have made the same decision.
“I do not want to leave on a success. I am leaving because I have decided that after four years, it is time to leave. I spent eight and a half years at Saint-Etienne, including seven and a half at the head of the team. It was good.
“I’m leaving Lille with an incredible result. I need something else. I don’t want to fall into a routine, into something classic, as I experienced at one point in Saint-Etienne. Wear and tear, always being in the same environment.”
Galtier also revealed that a lot of other clubs are interested in appointing him as their manager. He named Nice, Lyon and Italian side Napoli as possible destinations.
“Among the clubs that have asked me, there are three today that interest me. Galtier revealed.
Lyon, Nice and Napoli? Yes, I reflect on these three clubs. We will say that I had four with LOSC.
“Will I sign with one of these three clubs? Football is very special; you never know.”
The 54-year-old also added that he expects to make his decision by the end of this week.
