Continuing with the newcomers of Division 1: the Béziers Pirates Club with Lionel Teixidor, the team’s manager.
o The essential virtue of a good club manager:
Passion, especially in amateur sports, I think it’s the best way to pass on the love of the game.
o The main trait of my character as a leader:
Determination.
o The quality I prefer in a coach:
The ability to get the best out of each player. We all have talented players, but if we don’t let them express themselves, we’re missing out.
o The quality I prefer in a player:
Selflessness and the ability to put the team first. Especially in our sport where (except for home runs) points are made by everyone.
o My main flaw as a leader:
Too conciliatory. It’s a choice I make, but sometimes it forces me to backtrack to get a bit more discipline.
o My greatest strength in team management:
Human management. I particularly enjoy bringing together people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ages, with all their unique qualities.
o My favorite moment in a sports season:
The eve of the playoffs. You know every weekend is a must-win, and that’s thrilling!
o My ultimate dream for the club:
A Division 1 national title. Considering where we came from, that would be huge!
o What would be my biggest failure as a manager?
Being demoted to Division 2.
o The club ritual or tradition I love the most:
The victory beer we share after the game (without overdoing it, of course).
o My favorite quote on team management or sports:
« Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical. » (Yogi Berra)
o The coach I would have loved to draw inspiration from:
Aimé Jacquet. I like to draw inspiration from other sports when it comes to coaching (soccer, rugby, handball, etc.), and I have a very strong memory of how he managed the French team in 1998.
o My greatest pride as a leader:
Joining the big leagues. As a kid, I used to watch the Barracudas in the playoffs against Puc and Saint-Lô, and I felt like I was watching the Yankees. And today, 30 years later, we’re part of this division.
o What I hate the most about managing a club:
When egos come before the team.
o The biggest mistake a leader can make, in my opinion:
Not listening to your members. It can happen quickly when you’re too focused on the task at hand. You need to know when to step back and make some concessions.
o The natural talent I would like to have as a leader:
Firmness.
o My ideal vision of the club in 10 years:
In Division 1 with all the competitive branches active (9u, 12u, 15u, 18u, women’s softball) and evolving in a structure that has improved.
o My mindset at the start of a new season:
The desire to keep the winning culture alive.
o The mistake that inspires the most indulgence in me from a player or coach:
Physical error. Overall, I’m quite indulgent. The only mistake I have a hard time digesting is when it’s the result of a lack of will and the player looks for an excuse.
o My motto as a manager:
Losers look for excuses, winners find solutions.
Photo credits: Frederic VOLPATO and FFBS.
