As a football specialist and enthusiast, I’d like to share the inspiring story of Willy Sagnol’s coaching career. After a successful playing career, Sagnol transitioned into coaching and is currently the head coach of the Georgian national team. Many may not know that he also worked as an assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich in 2017.
In a recent interview, Sagnol opened up about the valuable experience of working alongside Ancelotti, one of the best coaches in history. He shared, “The few months I spent with Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern were worth all the training and experiences in the world. He completely opened his doors to me, showing me his way of working, being, and doing things. It changed me for the better, especially in my approach to coaching. Carlo always had a saying that I still remember almost daily. He constantly told me, ‘Focus your energy on things you can change. For the rest, don’t even spend 1%.’ This really helped me understand the importance of using my skills to make a difference. And of course, being around him every day, working with the players, and being on the field had a significant impact on me.”
Sagnol even had the opportunity to coach Bayern in a match, further highlighting the influence of his time with Ancelotti. This experience clearly shaped Sagnol’s coaching philosophy and approach. It’s incredible to see the lasting impact of such a mentorship in the world of football. A true testament to the power of learning from the best in the game.
