Pierre Gagnaire, multi-Michelin-starred chef devoted to Sainté | OneFootball

Pierre Gagnaire’s bond with AS Saint-Étienne runs as deep as his cuisine. Holder of 10 Michelin stars, as many as ASSE’s French titles, the Stéphanois still builds weekends around the Chaudron.

According to L'Équipe, he travelled to Geoffroy-Guichard for ASSE-Clermont on 17 January, a Ligue 2 tie he relished regardless of billing. Matchdays for him are a restorative ritual.

He casts himself as a basic supporter and follows Verts news obsessively. On the train he doubted Eirik Horneland, and 12 days later the Norwegian departed, while Lucas Stassin drew sharp criticism as Gautier Larsonneur and Florian Tardieu earned praise.

At ten he was registered with ASSE under Richard Tylinski and grew up near Geoffroy-Guichard, where his father ran Le Clos Fleuri in Saint-Priest-en-Jarez. He recalls cycling to see the 1957 title, idolising Rachid Mekhloufi, Kees Rijvers and Eugène N'Jo Léa, with Jean Snella a regular at the family table.

The collapse of his three-star in Saint-Étienne later felt like a chance, prompting a move to Paris at 46. Backed by investors, he opened on rue Balzac six months later and threw himself into a twice-daily boxing match of a job. In 2015 he was voted best chef in the world by more than 500 Michelin-starred chefs.

Source: L'Équipe