Who is Pierrot Labat?

In 1952, at 18 years of age, Pierrot Labat was the first player to be signed and invited for residential training at the Girondins de Bordeaux, prior to the creation of its Soccer Academy. Pierrot trained with both the reserve and first teams and played several matches before being seriously injured during the 1958–59 season. Even after intensive rehabilitation, he was never able to resume playing soccer at a professional level again.

By 1980 Pierrot was interested in returning to the soccer world, and was invited by the Girondins de Bordeaux to be part of the youth training and recruitment staff. His 15–16 year old team won the "Mondial Minimes" of Montaigu four times out of their six qualifications. He was passionate about training, and began organizing complementary sessions for the most dedicated players who had national team aspirations.

In 1986 Pierrot was integrated into the Training Academy as Assistant Director and remained there through June 1993. His roles were many: assistant trainer of technique, goalkeeper trainer for the reserve team, and coach of a youth team within the youth soccer school (8–12 years old). It was during this time that he met Lizarazu and Dugarry, future international players, and worked with the "man who taught him to teach", Ante Mladinić.

Pierrot's vision of the game, and of soccer coaching and training, was fundamentally transformed by Mladinić, one of the sport's pioneers and visionaries. He worked side by side for four years with Mladinić and developed what became known as the "Yugoslav" method. Ahead of his time, Mladinić was tracking players' statistics, conducting physical training at differentiated speeds to work on explosivity and vivacity on the field, and running separate technical sessions built on the essential moves used in match play — footwork with the ball, ball control, passes, shots on goal, heading. This is the method that was ultimately exported to Ajax Amsterdam and then embraced in Barcelona under Johan Cruyff.

In June 1993 Pierrot was asked to join the professional team as a talent scout, though he continued his responsibilities as assistant trainer of the reserve team. During this period, through June 1996, Pierrot also trained individual players including Lizarazu, Dugarry and Zidane.

In 1997, head coach Élie Baup asked Pierrot to join the professional team staff in charge of technique, which he did through 2005. In 1999, Bordeaux won the French Soccer Championship, and in 2000 the French League.

In 2005 Pierrot was fully reintegrated into the Academy and managed the technical training of the youth teams. At about this time he made the crucial decision to preserve the knowledge and wisdom he had developed with Mladinić, along with his 25 years of experience training generations of successful players, by creating a DVD teaching series.

In 2009, the 3 DVD set and his book, Memoirs of a Passionate Trainer and Coach, made a big splash in the French press as numerous international players including Lizarazu, Dugarry, Zidane and Papin came to the announcement to acknowledge the man, his achievement and the method. The DVD training series is notable for its in-depth scope and its proven track record with players who went on to achieve international elite status in the sport. The press conference was proof to what Labat's method brought to their lives and player success.

Labat is convinced that his life's work — collecting, recording and implementing what he passionately calls the Fundamentals of Soccer Technique — is essential to achieving excellence. He feels strongly that this knowledge needs to be shared, and his expertise is now available to coaches, trainers, parents and players alike. For all those passionate about this beautiful sport, Labat's technique will clear a path to the next level.