The Manager of Béziers

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.