:Laurent Batlles
{{Short description|French footballer and manager (born 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Laurent Batlles
| image = Laurent Battles (03-08-2011).jpg
| caption = Batlles as a Saint-Étienne player in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|9|23|df=y}}{{Lequipe|2549}}
| birth_place = Nantes, France
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1992–1994 | youthclubs1 = Toulouse
| years1 = 1994–1999 | clubs1 = Toulouse | caps1 = 158 | goals1 = 10
| years2 = 1999–2001 | clubs2 = Bordeaux | caps2 = 70 | goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2002 | clubs3 = Rennes | caps3 = 28 | goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2003 | clubs4 = Bastia | caps4 = 38 | goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2004–2005 | clubs5 = Marseille | caps5 = 49 | goals5 = 11
| years6 = 2005–2008 | clubs6 = Toulouse | caps6 = 84 | goals6 = 8
| years7 = 2008–2010 | clubs7 = Grenoble | caps7 = 70 | goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2010–2012 | clubs8 = Saint-Étienne | caps8 = 68 | goals8 = 8
| totalcaps = 565 | totalgoals = 48
| nationalyears1 = 1991 | nationalteam1 = France U16 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1996–1997 | nationalteam2 = France U21 | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs1 = Saint-Étienne (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2016–2019 | managerclubs2 = Saint-Étienne (reserves)
| manageryears3 = 2019–2021 | managerclubs3 = Troyes
| manageryears4 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs4 = Saint-Étienne
| manageryears5 = 2024–2025 | managerclubs5 = Clermont Foot
}}
Laurent Batlles (born 23 September 1975) is a French former professional footballer, who played as a midfielder, and current manager.
Playing career
Batlles was born in Nantes. In 1993, he emerged from the Toulouse academy into the senior squad, playing his first game in Division 1 on 2 April 1994 in a 1–0 away loss against Lyon.{{cite news|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2007/01/13/386619-tfc-laurent-batlles-battre-l-ol-c-est-possible.html|title=TFC Laurent Batlles. «Battre l'OL, c'est possible»|trans-title=TFC Laurent Batlles. "To beat OL, a possibility"|newspaper=La Dépêche du Midi|first=Jean-Paul|last=Pronzato|language=fr|date=13 January 2007|access-date=28 December 2022}}
In 1999, after scoring ten league goals in six seasons, two spent in Division 2, Batlles signed with Bordeaux, where he took part in exactly half of 1999–2000's league fixtures, adding eight appearances in the side's run in the UEFA Champions League, netting once.{{cite web|url=http://www.anciensverts.com/joueur.php?numero=770|title=La fiche complète de l'ancien Vert Laurent BATLLES|trans-title=The complete profile of former Green Laurent BATLLES|publisher=Anciens Verts|language=fr|access-date=28 December 2022}} The following campaign he scored three in 32 matches, featuring in 19 league games in 2001–02 – six in the UEFA Cup – before completing the latter season at Rennes.
In January 2003, Batlles moved to Corsica and Bastia. He played the remaining 19 fixtures for his new team, a figure he repeated in the first half of 2003–04 (without scoring) before joining Marseille, in another January transfer window move.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0199-0e6c0bc130cf-353f59f50795-1000--bastia-lose-batlles-to-marseille/|title=Bastia lose Batlles to Marseille|publisher=UEFA|date=29 January 2004|access-date=10 June 2010}}
Batlles contributed eight matches in l'OM's runner-up run in the UEFA Cup including the final, lost 2–0 to Valencia.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3724215.stm|title=Valencia 2–0 Marseille|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 May 2004|access-date=12 March 2015}} The following season he scored eight goals in 30 games{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01aa-0f84774e9a0f-c276a8a0d33c-1000--batlles-contract-boost-for-marseille/|title=Batlles contract boost for Marseille|publisher=UEFA|date=30 June 2005|access-date=11 February 2021}} and, after starting 2005–06 at the Stade Vélodrome, rejoined Toulouse following problems with manager Jean Fernandez.{{cite news|url=https://www.laprovence.com/article/om/5972272/.html|title=Laurent Batlles: "C'est très fort de jouer pour l'OM"|trans-title=Laurent Batlles: "To play for OM is something else"|newspaper=La Provence|first=Arnaud|last=Vitalis|language=fr|date=26 April 2020|access-date=28 December 2022}}
Batlles joined permanently in the 2006–07 campaign after a successful loan spell, although he had a contract with Marseille until June 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.footmercato.net/a8131973461483189359-entretien-avec-laurent-batlles-je-regrette-encore-davoir-quitte-lom|title=Entretien avec... Laurent Batlles: "Je regrette encore d'avoir quitté l'OM"|trans-title=Interview with... Laurent Batlles: "I still regret leaving l'OM"|publisher=Foot Mercato|first=Julien|last=Zito|language=fr|date=12 March 2009|access-date=11 February 2021}} Again, he was an undisputed starter, as Toulouse finished third in the league and reached the third qualifying round of the Champions League, eventually bowing out to Liverpool.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6963463.stm|title=Liverpool 4–0 Toulouse (5–0)|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Chris|last=Bevan|date=28 August 2007|access-date=11 February 2021}}
In 2008–09, the 33-year-old Batlles joined newly promoted club Grenoble on a two-year deal,{{cite news|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2008/07/02/462481-tfc-battles-signe-pour-deux-ans-a-grenoble.html|title=TFC. {{sic|nolink=y|Battles}} signe pour deux ans à Grenoble|trans-title=TFC. Batlles signs with Grenoble for two years|newspaper=La Dépêche du Midi|language=fr|date=2 July 2008|access-date=11 February 2021}} being first choice as it eventually retained its top-flight status. In June 2010, after being relegated, he was released, quickly signing for Saint-Étienne – the first team placed above the relegation zone – at nearly 35 years of age.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11814/6243967/batlles-joins-st-etienne|title=Batlles joins St Etienne|publisher=Sky Sports|date=3 July 2010|access-date=11 February 2021}}
Coaching career
Batlles retired from football in May 2012, with a total of 473 French top-tier games and 41 goals.{{cite web|url=https://www.24matins.fr/laurent-batlles-dit-adieu-a-sa-carriere-de-footballeur-16685|title=Laurent Batlles dit adieu à sa carrière de footballeur|trans-title=Laurent Batlles sees out career as footballer|publisher=24 Matins|first=Rémy|last=Trentesaux|language=fr|date=24 May 2012|access-date=17 January 2022}} He continued working with his last club, as a technical supervisor.{{cite web|url=http://www.asse.fr/index.php?page=detail_actu&id=9407|title=Laurent Batlles attaché à l'ASSE|trans-title=Laurent Batlles attached to ASSE|publisher=AS Saint-Étienne|language=fr|date=24 May 2012|access-date=24 August 2012}}
In June 2019, Batlles was announced as the new coach of Troyes, joining on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.foot-national.com/foot-troyes-laurent-batlles-nomme-entraineur-off-119134.html|title=Troyes: Laurent Batlles nommé entraîneur (off)|trans-title=Troyes: Laurent Batlles named manager (off)|publisher=Foot National|language=fr|date=14 June 2019|access-date=14 June 2019}} He led them back to the top flight in 2021 after a three-year absence, as champions.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/fr/news/troyes-de-retour-en-ligue-1/1hzmauy04etss17bfvn6sw3oz9|title=Troyes de retour en Ligue 1!|trans-title=Troyes back in Ligue 1!|publisher=Goal|language=fr|date=8 May 2021|access-date=17 January 2022}}
Batlles left on 30 December 2021, after falling out with owners City Football Group.{{cite web|url=https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/ligue-1/ligue-1-batlles-troyes-les-raisons-du-divorce_AD-202112300185.html|title=Ligue 1: Batlles-Troyes, les raisons du divorce|trans-title=Ligue 1: Batlles-Troyes, the reasons for divorce|publisher=RMC|first=T.|last1=Maymon|first2=L.|last2=Tanzi|language=fr|date=30 December 2021|access-date=17 January 2022}} He agreed to a two-year deal at recently-relegated Saint-Étienne on 3 June 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/official-laurent-batlles-named-manager-of-saint-etienne/|title=Official {{!}} Laurent Batlles named manager of Saint-Étienne|publisher=Get French Football News|date=3 June 2022|access-date=21 June 2022}} On 6 December 2023, following five consecutive Ligue 2 defeats, Batlles was sacked.{{Cite web |last= |date=6 December 2023 |title=Communiqué officiel: Laurent Batlles retiré de la gestion de l'équipe professionnelle |trans-title=Official announcement: Laurent Batlles removed from professional team management |url=https://www.asse.fr/fr/actualites/laurent-batlles-retire-de-la-gestion-de-l-equipe-professionnelle-ac35637 |access-date=6 December 2023 |publisher=AS Saint-Étienne |language=fr}}
Managerial statistics
{{updated|match played 5 December 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure |
| rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |Nat ! rowspan="2" |From ! rowspan="2"|To ! colspan="8" |Record !rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| {{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} |
| align=left|Troyes
|{{Flagicon|FRA}} |align=left|14 June 2019 |align=left|30 December 2021 {{WDL|89|43|17|29|for=114|against=94|diff=yes}} |{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/france/esperance-sportive-troyes-aube-champagne/914/|title=Troyes AC: Matches|work=Soccerway|publisher=DAZN Group|access-date=22 December 2019}} |
| align=left|Saint-Étienne
|{{Flagicon|FRA}} |align=left|3 June 2022 |align=left|6 December 2023 {{WDL|57|23|15|19|for=83|against=75|diff=yes}} | |
| colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|146|66|32|48|for=197|against=169|diff=yes}} ! |
Honours
=Player=
Marseille
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round=2188/Match=81581/Report=LU.html|title=Marseille 5–1 Deportivo (Aggregate: 5–3)|publisher=UEFA|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060531214209/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round=2188/Match=81581/Report=LU.html|archive-date=31 May 2006}}
=Manager=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Lequipe|2549}}
- {{LFP|batlles-laurent}}
{{Clermont Foot squad}}
{{Ligue 1 Goal of the Year}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Troyes AC managers}}
{{AS Saint-Étienne managers}}
{{Clermont Foot managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battles, Laurent}}
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Nantes
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux players
Category:Stade Rennais FC players
Category:Olympique de Marseille players
Category:Grenoble Foot 38 players
Category:AS Saint-Étienne players
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:French football managers
Category:Championnat National 2 managers
Category:ES Troyes AC managers