Christophe Galtier is the second longest serving manager at a club in Europe, behind fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger.
Taking over at Saint Etienne in 2009, Galtier has a Coupe de la Ligue to his name and has built up a huge respect both in French football and beyond.
Whilst his dream will always be to get Saint Etienne as high as possible in Ligue 1, against the odds, he’s not ruled out the possibility of trying a new adventure overseas.
Linked several times with moves to the Premier League, Galtier has been asked by L’Equipe if it’s true he received an approach from Aston Villa in the Autumn of 2015.
The manager explained: “Yes, but my bosses refused. I understand their position. That’s why there wasn’t a prolonged discussion.”
It wasn’t the first time Galtier has been linked with a move to England. In February of last year, after links to Newcastle United, the manager was quoted Le10 Sport as saying: “I have not had any discussion or approach with Newcastle. I read about it when I was on vacation. My kids sent me a SMS in English for fun and I did not understand. They said ‘Ha, read the papers’.”
“I have had no contact with Newcastle. I am not out of contract, my only goal is to succeed in Saint-Etienne. The rumours of my departure to Marseille? Fantasies peddled by some. I’m not going to OM. End of!”
Galtier for now remains in his position with Saint Etienne, and just like it has been for the past seven years, his aim is to fight against the odds and beat Ligue 1’s more financially able clubs.
