For the past year and a half, Joan Piera has been the sports psychologist at Olympique Lyonnais. After five years of studying psychology, two years specializing in sports psychology, and two years at Villarreal CF, he also joined the mental skills training team at the academy that produced players like Karim Benzema and Alexandre Lacazette. "In Spain, the role of a psychologist is more developed than in France. For example, at Villarreal, we had eight psychologists at the academy," notes Piera, who recently completed a Master's degree in optimizing performance in Dijon.
So, what is his role at OL? "Since this season, I’ve been part of the U17 team staff, and I also advise the U13s on group dynamics and individual aspects. One of my main tasks is profiling the players through interviews, which helps us categorize them. We also monitor the group to identify the motivational, operational, or social leaders," explains the Spanish. "In a football team, it’s crucial to know who is who. That’s why it makes sense to have a psychologist on staff in an academy, because football isn’t just about the game. Social factors and school also play a role in the learning and development of elite athletes."