Jamal Alioui, fire to Pierre Sage’s ice, the trusted foil behind his rise | OneFootball

Pierre Sage’s meteoric rise, crowned by the Ligue 1 coach of the year on Monday, has unfolded alongside Jamal Alioui, the fiery foil to his cool head.

According to L'Équipe, Sage could take only one assistant to the Lens bench last summer and chose the Moroccan. They first bonded during a BEF course about a decade ago, and Alioui joined his OL staff in January 2024.

They challenge one another yet share the same vision, often anticipating each other’s thoughts. A confidant calls them fire and ice, Sage making the final calls while Alioui runs sessions and supplies the intensity demanded by Sage’s tactical periodisation.

A former Morocco right-back with 16 caps, Alioui was shaped by Gian Piero Gasperini at Crotone in 2005-2006. He has coached Vaulx-en-Velin, GOAL FC and Bourges, assisted at Nancy and Versailles, and is completing the BEPF through VAE.

Players praise his blend of candour and warmth. Odsonne Édouard credits him with daily voice and energy that the squad try to reproduce on the pitch.

He urged Sage to include 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub against Nantes, the teenager then the 1-0 matchwinner last Friday. He has also helped shape Malick Fofana and Rayan Cherki.

His son Adam, 16, a right-back, plays up in OL’s under-19s. The duo will soon add former Lens captain Yannick Cahuzac to the staff, and sentiment will be parked at Groupama Stadium.

Source: L'Équipe