Pierre Sage’s appetite for innovation in training methodology and his attention to man-management are well known (watch his interview). The RC Lens head coach, current Ligue 1 leaders, has illustrated this once again with a strong initiative: integrating Jonathan Gradit into the coaching staff during his rehabilitation. Sidelined since late November with a tibia-fibula fracture, the 33-year-old centre-back will not be isolated during his recovery. Quite the opposite. He will be involved in the design of certain training sessions, match analysis, and the collective reflection process. The objective is clear: "To prevent disconnection from the group, maintain an active role, and allow a key dressing-room figure to remain fully connected to the collective project". This approach is supported by several scientific studies. Research (Caumeil, 2020; Wadey et al., 2011) shows that injury can lead athletes to experience social isolation, often linked to a loss of role or reduced interaction with teammates. Conversely, social support — from staff, coaches and teammates — is identified as a major protective factor in psychological recovery and injury coping (Caumeil, 2020; Yang et al., 2014). By integrating an injured player into the staff, RC Lens enables him to remain at the heart of the project — and even to become an active contributor in a different way.
RC Lens head coach Pierre Sage has chosen to integrate centre-back Jonathan Gradit into the coaching staff during his recovery period. / ©Icon Sport