Willy David Frédéric Sagnol is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a defender.
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He was born on March 18, 1977, and is currently the manager of the Georgia national team.
Playing Career – Clubs and National Team:
Sagnol first made his way in the world of football at his father’s former club in Haute-Loire, Montfaucon-en-Velay where he developed his defensive game at right back, as well as performing exceptionally on the right side of midfield.
Saint-Étienne
From Montfaucon he progressed, eventually joining the region’s flagship club Saint-Étienne.
Monaco
An impressive two-year spell saw him earn a transfer to Monaco in 1997.
With Monaco, he experienced his first taste of success, winning Division 1 in 2000. Sagnol also played in Jean Tigana’s talented Monaco team which knocked Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford.
His form saw him pressing for a call up to represent France internationally, but he was initially overlooked by national coach Roger Lemerre.
Bayern Munich
Sagnol moved in the summer of 2000 to the German team Bayern Munich.
Sagnol was a reliable defender who was also at ease playing offensive positions, frequently as a wing back. His exceptional crossing ability made him stand out as a crucial component of Bayern’s offensive play.
He won the DFB-Pokal in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008; the Bundesliga in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008; and the UEFA Champions League in 2001 with the Bavarian club.
With his Achilles tendon still giving him trouble, Sagnol declared his retirement from competitive play on February 1, 2009.
International career
He was less successful at the international level, frequently starting as a substitute for Lilian Thuram on the right side of the French defense.
Sagnol was not first-choice until 2004, and he stayed that way for the following four years, following Marcel Desailly’s retirement and Thuram’s subsequent shift to the center of the French defense.
Sagnol competed for France in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Germany. He started all seven of his team’s games en route to the final.
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Managerial Career:
Sagnol was head coach of the France national under-21 team until he was appointed head coach of Girondins de Bordeaux on 23 May 2014.
He signed a two-year contract which expired on 30 June 2016. In his first season,
Bordeaux finished sixth in Ligue 1, the round of 32 in the Coupe de France, and the round of 16 in the Coupe de la Ligue. The season included a 4–1 win against Monaco, 3–2 win against Paris Saint-Germain, and a 5–0 loss to Olympique Lyonnais.
Bordeaux started the 2015-16 league season with a win, four draws, and a loss and on matchday seven, on 23 September 2015, Bordeaux lost to Nice 6–1.
Sagnol was dismissed on 14 March 2016 after a 4–0 loss to Toulouse in the Derby de la Garonne.
Bayern Munich
On 9 June 2017, Sagnol re-joined Bayern Munich as an assistant coach under Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti was dismissed by the club on 28 September 2017 and Sagnol was announced as interim manager.
After managing Bayern for eight days and one match (a 2–2 draw against Hertha BSC), Sagnol left the club when permanent manager Jupp Heynckes and his assistants Peter Hermann and Hermann Gerland were announced.
Georgia
Sagnol was appointed the manager of the Georgia national team on 15 February 2021.
In 2024, he led them to their first-ever major international tournament, UEFA Euro 2024, after defeating Greece in the qualifying play-off final on penalties.
He led Georgia to the knockout stage of the final tournament following a 2–0 victory against Portugal in the last group game.
Family, Personal Life, and Facts – Parents, Siblings, Wife, Children, and Height:
There is insufficient information about Sagnol’s parents. His father, however, was also a footballer and played in a team in Haute-Loire, Montfaucon-en-Velay.
Sagnol has been married twice. His first wife was called Leatitia.
He is currently married to Charlotte-Gwendoline. They have been married since December 6, 2007.
Sagnol has four children; Two children with his ex-wife Leatitia, Chiara (born September 27th, 2002) and Sandro (born November 2, 2006), and two with his current wife.
Sagnol’s height is 5′ 10¾″ (1.80 m).
Salary and Net Worth:
Sagnol is the lowest-paid manager at Euro 2024. He earns £168,000 annually.
Despite his low earnings as Georgia manager, Sagnol made considerable wealth during his playing career and has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
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