First Steps In Coaching

Promotion Double in the Alps 

When Julien accepted the offer to become Grenoble Foot 38’s assistant coach in the summer of 2016, he was stepping into familiar territory with fresh credentials: he had just completed his UEFA B licence, making him eligible for an official staff role in the CFA. Returning to the club where he’d played his best football, Julien felt ready for the next step.

The challenges were significant—Grenoble was battling in France’s fourth tier. From the very first pre-season session, Julien’s focus was on transferring his experiences as a player into the daily grind of training and match preparation. He worked closely with the head coach, helping blend veterans with ambitious youth in a squad designed for a promotion push.

The 2016/17 season was a dream. Julien took charge of technical drills, guided midfield play, and acted as a bridge between staff and dressing room. Grenoble posted one of their strongest ever campaigns in CFA Groupe C and, by spring, clinched 1st place and a precious promotion to the Championnat National. For Julien, celebrating that night at Stade des Alpes was another highlight of his football life—this time from the bench.

The following year brought new challenges in the National, France’s tough third level. Early in the season, Julien took another leap and began his UEFA A licence course, balancing intensive studies with the demanding role of assistant coach. Even on matchdays, he worked new ideas from the course into his approach, pushing the team and himself to adapt to the tougher opposition.

As the National season wore on, Grenoble’s grit and organisation paid dividends. Julien was an integral part of the coaching staff throughout that 2017/18 promotion battle, his own development mirroring the club’s ambitions. By season’s end, Grenoble finished 3rd, earning yet another promotion—this time, back to Ligue 2.

Those two years were transformational: Grenoble’s double rise up the divisions and Julien’s journey through coaching qualifications cemented his status not just as a former player, but as an emerging professional coach. And as confetti swirled at the final whistle, Julien looked up into the stands—Louis and Camille waving excitedly—and recognised the beauty of new beginnings for both club and family.

At the end of season 2017/18 Olivier Guégan's contract as the manager of Grenoble has expired and he accepted the opportunity to take over at Valenciennes FC.

Next time we'll find out what Guégan's departure means for Julien!

New Beginnings

 Fatherhood, Friendship, and the First Steps Toward Coaching

The summer of 2015 arrived with sunlight and celebration for Julien and Laura. In late July, their long-awaited second child was born—a son named Louis. The newborn’s cries and sleepy smiles brought fresh energy and warmth to their quiet house in Grenoble. Julien, happily retired from football, dived into fatherhood with his whole heart, mastering the art of bottle-heating and nighttime comforting. Camille, now a lively and curious girl, was delighted by her baby brother, always eager to help and cheer Louis with gentle songs.

Life moved at a slower, richer rhythm. Morning walks became a ritual: Laura and Julien strolled through Grenoble’s leafy boulevards, Camille skipping ahead, Louis tucked safe in a sling. The parks echoed with laughter. Friends and family visited, marveling at how Julien—once so focused on football—now seemed perfectly content with the simple joys of home.

Yet the game was never far from his mind. As summer faded into autumn, Julien began to sense the familiar pull of the pitch—not as a player, but as a guide. Encouraged by Laura and by fond memories of years spent in team huddles, he signed up for a coaching course, eager to turn decades of experience into new skills for molding future generations.

At the first session of his UEFA B license course, Julien felt a wave of nostalgia and nervous energy. The classroom was filled with ex-pros, faded talents, and local youth coaches. Then, a grin spread across his face—a familiar figure approached: Nicolas Dieuze, another stalwart from Grenoble’s glory years, fresh from his own retirement after a solid career across France's leagues.

While their own children—Louis, Camille, and Nicolas’ twins—were much too young to play together, Julien and Nicolas quickly fell back into old routines. The coaching coursework was intense: classroom theory, video analysis, hands-on drills on chilly autumn mornings. Over coffee, they laughed about old matches, swapped stories about coaching ambitions, and the world of football.

Evenings often saw the two of them poring over tactics, challenging each other’s game models, or dreaming about starting an academy together one day. The camaraderie of teammates was instantly rekindled—now focused on learning, teaching, and passing on their love of the game.

Julien found the journey as rewarding as any championship chase—each module completed, every new concept mastered felt like a small victory. At night, in the peaceful hush of the nursery, Julien looked at Louis and imagined futures: perhaps his son would one day be coached by him, perhaps not. What mattered now was the moment, the fresh start for his family—and the quiet pride of a new purpose, growing alongside the greatest gifts life had given him.

See you next with Julien's first steps in coaching!

Final Bow

The Farewell

We closed the previous chapter with the team and supporters filled with anticipation for the coming season. For one figure, however, thoughts took a different turn. Months earlier, Julien had begun discussions about his future with the club. Christophe Galtier spoke candidly: summer transfer plans were already forming, and while Julien’s leadership and experience were valued in the dressing room, his on-pitch role would be much reduced—only occasional appearances, no longer a key player.

Training camps grew harder with each year, and the rigors of preseason were taking their toll on Julien’s aging body. Towards the end of the season, the familiar ache of his right ankle resurfaced—a warning sign that perhaps the end was near.

They reached an agreement: the match on May 17th, against Ajaccio, would be Julien’s final professional game. When the 60th minute arrived and Saint-Étienne led 2–0, Julien was substituted for the last time. The crowd roared his name—“Gauthier, Gauthier!”—and tears mingled with his smile as he waved goodbye.

His journey had its share of poor decisions and untimely injuries, but Julien could look back knowing he’d hoisted a cup with Saint-Étienne, and ended his career on a high, with his best ever lague finish

He's never been a household name in Europe, not even in France except fotr the regions of Grenoble and St. Étienne. Relegated in his first full season with Le Havre, then moved to Everton where he never really lived up to the expexctations and spent a season and a half on loan at Preston, for the final season of his Everton contract he was sent on loan to Bochum, where he got relegated again. In 2005 he moved to Ligue 2 side Grenoble, where he became team captain gained promotion in 2008. In 2010 (after he got relegated with Grenoble ) he moved to St. Étienne, where he has spent the last four years of his playing career and finished 10th, 7th 5th, then 4th in his final season, also won the Coup de la Ligue in 2013.

After his emotional farewell, Julien and Laura settled in Grenoble—the site of his fondest football memories. In a quiet neighborhood and a classic French home, Julien devoted the next year to his family. The rhythm of ordinary life replaced the highs and lows of match days; visits to his parents and sister in Le Havre became part of their new routine. He embraced the peace, grateful for a career fulfilled and a future with those who mattered most.

Let's see what happens next with Julien!

High Hopes and Harsh Realities

 Saint-Étienne's 2013/14

After a summer of anticipation, Julien, the team, and the Saint-Étienne supporters were filled with optimism for the new season—especially with the prospect of competing in the UEFA Europa League. The city buzzed with excitement, fueled by strong transfer arrivals and the hope that last year’s cup success would translate into league and European progress.

Saint-Étienne’s return to continental competition was, however, short-lived and disappointing. After winning comfortably in the third qualifying round (beating Milsami Orhei from Moldova 6–0 on aggregate), the team faltered at the final hurdle against Esbjerg. The first leg away ended 4–3 for Esbjerg, and back in France, Saint-Étienne couldn’t overturn the deficit, losing 0–1 at Geoffroy-Guichard and crashing out before reaching the group stage.​

Julien started both legs but struggled to impose himself against the Danish side’s pressing, and the team’s attacking spark faded. For both Julien and the club, the early exit felt bitter—this might well have been Julien’s last European adventure.

Domestically, Saint-Étienne had a solid if unspectacular Ligue 1 season, finishing 4th and securing Europa League qualification for the following year. Julien, now 33, was generally named in the starting eleven for the first half of the season, but Galtier often replaced him around the 60th minute—balancing experience and fresh legs. By spring, younger midfielders and tactical shifts saw Julien gradually fall out of the starting team, though he continued making substitute appearances.

Saint-Étienne’s Ligue 1 performance was an undeniable bright spot. The fourth place—edging out rivals and showing consistent improvement from previous years. While at times the football was cautious and defensively focused, the squad’s resilience earned them crucial points in tightly contested matches, helping them rise in the table as the season progressed.

Fans and players alike looked ahead with renewed hope, knowing that next year would bring another chance for European adventure on the back of domestic progress. The foundations were firmly laid; the future, though uncertain, full of possibility.

In the Coupe de France, the team suffered an early exit in the third round. In the Coupe de la Ligue, Saint-Étienne made it to the quarter-finals but were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain.

Team Statistics

Julien’s Season Stats

See you next time with the summer of 2014!

Europe Awaits

The Summer of 2013

After the exhausting but triumphant season, Julien took Laura and little Camille on a well-deserved holiday to the sun-drenched beaches of southern Spain. The sound of the waves, the haze of sand, and the easy laughter of his family set the scene for reflection: he was 33, and acutely aware that each summer brought him closer to the final chapters of his playing career.

The contract extension signed the previous summer—after lifting the Coupe de la Ligue—meant Julien would have another shot at showing himself on the European stage, even after the misadventure with Bochum a few years prior that had nearly ended his continental ambitions. He knew this could be his last real opportunity to make an impression outside France.

Back in Saint-Étienne, change was in the air. The club bid farewell to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, their electric striker, who moved to Borussia Dortmund for a club-record fee. Right winger Bănel Nicoliță left on loan to Nantes, while Josuha Guilavogui joined Atlético Madrid, marking a significant loss in midfield. In came Franck Tabanou from Toulouse, Benjamin Corgnet from Lorient, Paul Baysse from Brest, and the promising forward Mevlüt Erdinç from Rennes—all ready to reshape the team.

As July turned, Saint-Étienne’s pre-season kicked off with an intensive training camp in the Alps. For two weeks, the squad rose early for tactical drills and grueling fitness sessions on the mountain pitches. Julien felt the effect of every run and every touch, but also the camaraderie as old and new faces gelled into a united group. Christophe Galtier kept the atmosphere focused but upbeat, aware of the opportunity ahead in Europe.

The camp culminated in a series of friendlies where the new arrivals made an immediate impact. Julien started the opening game against Servette, testing his fitness and timing. Tabanou’s crosses and Erdinç’s movement quickly caught the eye, as Saint-Étienne swept their Swiss hosts aside 2–0.

A few days later, against Nîmes, Julien played the second half, picking up a smart assist with a well-placed through ball for Corgnet’s first goal in green. The final test came against Charleroi, where a strong defensive performance and a late Erdinç winner gave the team a 1–0 victory—the perfect end to pre-season.

As preseason unfolded, there was genuine excitement around the squad’s new-look midfield and attack—even if Paul Baysse would miss much of the autumn after a serious injury. The press tipped Saint-Étienne as outside contenders for the Champions League places, with their strong defense and a hungry group of new arrivals.

For Julien, the anticipation was tinged with urgency. He realized the chance to play in Europe—likely for the last time—was not just about legacy, but about proving to himself and his fans that he still belonged at the highest level.

He returned to France determined, quietly savoring the possibility that one final adventure awaited in the green of Les Verts.

See you next time with Julien's return to European football for the first time since 2004!

Saint-Étienne 2012/13

The Cup Run

After the summer handshake and contract extension, Julien accepted his role as a defensive midfielder, mostly featuring as a substitute. Christophe Galtier stuck to his word: Julien wasn’t a guaranteed starter, but he was trusted as the first man off the bench, especially in tough matches when experience was needed.

By Christmas, Saint-Étienne were in contention for European spots. The team had only lost a handful of games and boasted one of Ligue 1's stingiest defenses, but several frustrating draws kept them just outside the top four.

Julien had made an impact in the cup competitions and grown into a trusted piece in midfield, but his Ligue 1 minutes were still limited. Most of his starts came in cup matches.

The Tactical Switch

After the winter break, Galtier introduced a new system featuring two defensive midfielders, giving Julien regular starts—especially in matches against higher-ranked opponents and cup ties. This change paid off: the team improved its ball recovery and dictated play more assertively.

Julien’s league minutes rose steadily. In the knockout cups, he became indispensable for composure and experience, particularly as Saint-Étienne advanced in the Coupe de la Ligue. In three  rounds—against Lorient, PSG, and Lille—the team survived nerve-wracking penalty shootouts. Julien stepped up in each, coolly converting his spot-kick and earning the faith of the fans and teammates alike.

In the final, against Rennes at the Stade de France, Julien scored the only goal—a precise, powerful strike following a late run into the box. His name echoed in celebration as Saint-Étienne lifted the trophy.

Julien Gauthier's stats:

Julien’s journey from uncertain squad player to pivotal trophy-winner echoed the team’s resurgence. The tactical evolution—and his clutch performances in shootouts—turned the season into a personal and collective triumph.

See you next time with summer 2013!