It’s often said that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and nowhere is that more accurate than in the football world.
Take the case of Amiens coach Luka Elsner. Usually, Tottenham Hotspur may have very little interest in letting the manager of a small Ligue 1 club fly over, meet the staff and observe Mauricio Pochettino in training.
Elsner, however, has an advantage over the rest. He happens to be best friends with Hugo Lloris. The pair grew up together in the same region in France and despite the four year age gap, became good friends.
They remain close to this day, with their families going on holiday together and Lloris keeping track of how his old friend is faring at Amiens.
So when the opportunity arose for Elsner to visit last season, the French goalkeeper didn’t hesitate to set up a meeting with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, as well as the chance to take in Spurs training first-hand.
That was a vast learning experience for a new coach like Elsner, who admits it wouldn’t have been possible were it not for his significant connection at Tottenham making it happen.
“I had the chance to see him in his work environment, to observe his method, and it’s worth gold for a developing coach.
“He introduced me to his staff, and when I saw that the day before a match, he spent three or four hours talking with a coach like me, I thought, that’s how I want to be.”
“I understand that Hugo wants to stay with him. They are good people, doing something exceptional.”
Specifically on growing up with the Tottenham captain, Elsner was also glowing: “We saw his level, his investment, his commitment, his intelligence, too. We all knew that he would have gone very far (outside of football) if he had studied. As it was for us, his family was very present for him. And it is also what he does, this loyalty to his roots, to his friends. Despite the careers, the calendars that intersect, the link has always been there.”
