Five things to know about David Bettoni, the new coach of FC Sion
French clubs have already contacted him
If FC Sion, where he committed on Monday, is his first experience as head coach of a professional club, David Bettoni was not far from experiencing it in France. In February 2022, the Girondins de Bordeaux took the temperature when replacing Vladimir Petkovic. Admar Lopes, the Bordeaux sports director, spoke with the former Real. But his inexperience as number one cooled the ardor of the scapular club which finally chose David Guion. LOSC also thought of Bettoni for succeed Gourvennec last summer. The Portuguese Paulo Fonseca was preferred to him.
A very close friend of Zinedine Zidane
Before becoming his assistant at Real, David Bettoni met Zinédine Zidane at AS Cannes. In 1988, the two players were trainees at the club and housed in the same hostel for young workers, the “Mimon”. Bettoni then followed the tricolor number 10 to Italy. When the latter was playing at Juventus, his friend played for Italian third and fourth division clubs. When Zizou leaves for Real, Bettoni also moves to the Spanish capital. And when the 98 world champion was offered the position of coach of the Merengues in 2016, he accepted it only on the condition that his childhood friend be his deputy.
He was coach of Real Madrid
Admittedly, it was in the interim, but David Bettoni took his place on the Real bench as number one coach at the end of January 2021, when Zidane was positive for Covid. The two matches he led in La Liga ended in a win (4-1 against Deportivo Alavés) and a draw (3-3 against Levante). Bettoni was then able to confront the egos of great players since he saw stars like Benzema, Modric, Hazard and Cristiano Ronaldo evolve on the lawn of the Santiago Bernabeu. He will be able to draw inspiration from what he experienced alongside Zidane to manage a player like Mario Balotelli, the star of FC Sion.
“The Frenchman presents himself as an offensive technician with possession geared towards the offensive”
A tactical specialist
At Real, David Bettoni was considered the “tactical gentleman” of Zidane’s staff. FC Sion, 9th in the Swiss championship standings, also specified in its press release announcing its signing that ” the French presents himself as an offensive technician with a possession turned towards the offensive. » In Madrid, he was also in charge of preparing and leading training. He graduated as a UEFA Pro Coach in May 2017.
A modest playing career
The one who played as a midfielder has traveled in the lower divisions in France and Italy. In France, he passed through Cannes, where he began and ended his career, but also Istres, Alès and Créteil. In Italy, he wore the colors of Vouszano, Alessandria, Novare, Lucchese and Brescello. With six relegations to his credit, the Saint-Priest native has not had as much success as a player as as an assistant. What about his coaching career? The new coach of FC Sion, currently 9th in the Swiss championship (out of 10 teams), will lead his first collective training session on Tuesday.
