For blue Sport, former Swiss national team star and Lausanne coach Ludovic Magnin opens the door to his childhood home and shows us his bedroom. They talk a lot and laugh even more. No wonder, because dad Jean-Claude is just as much of an original as his son.
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- Former national team star and Lausanne coach Ludovic Magnin shows blue Sport around his parents' house in Echallens VD.
- The ceiling and walls were full of posters, says Magnin. When blue Sport asks him to sit on his crib, he asks back with a laugh: "Are you well insured in case it breaks?"
- During the conversation with his father, it quickly becomes clear that the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. They discuss and laugh, always with a pinch of humor.
- "The best and most important thing about my childhood was that I had a home where people laughed a lot," says Magnin.
It's never boring with Ludovic Magnin (45). Witty. Charismatic. Direct. Emotional. That's how he was as a player for years, and that's how he is as a coach.
But even though the 62-time international player wears his heart on his sleeve and reveals a lot about himself, he always keeps his private life as private as possible.
He makes an exception for blue Sport and shows off his family home in Echallens VD. This is where he grew up, where he studied for school, kicked and fought with his younger brother and dreamed of a career as a footballer. However, his childhood dream was smaller than what he ultimately achieved in football: Magnin is German champion and cup winner with Bremen, German champion with Stuttgart, four-time finalist with the national team, cup-winning coach at FCZ and promotion coach with Lausanne.
"Ludo was an exemplary pupil, never had any problems"
Magnin sits on his crib and remembers: "I dreamed of playing for Lausanne. But I never made it. It's a scar that I was never allowed to show what I could do at my club. Signing as a coach in Lausanne has made that scar a little smaller."
Even if he has become quieter over the years, Magnin is still hard to ignore on the touchline. If he feels he and his team are being treated unfairly, he gets loud and emotional. As a schoolboy, he was a model boy, reveals his father Jean-Claude: "Ludo never got into trouble at school. He also always played football. And he wasn't particularly emotional about that either." Ludovic's mother Isabelle sits next to him at the dining table and nods in agreement. She prefers not to be in the picture. She is happy to leave the spotlight to the two men.
"If my father talks about my team, I'm quickly gone"
Jean-Claude, once also a footballer and coach at a high amateur level and a minor celebrity in Vaud, has no problem with cameras. He says: "Ludo got his ambition and absolute will to win from me. We are proud of him. You can't have a better career as a footballer."
And as a coach? Jean-Claude says: "On the whole, I'm happy with him. With a few exceptions where I disagree with him..." Laughter. Ludovic interrupts: "When my father starts talking about my team, I'm quickly in the car and drive home." More laughter. Ludovic: "The best and most important thing about my childhood was that I had a home where people laughed a lot."
"Now you know why I have such a big 'purr'"
It's also funny this afternoon. When Ludovic has to ring the doorbell and say hello for the fourth time, he says to his father: "Now I've said hello to you for the whole new year." And when Jean-Claude is asked about the footballing differences between him and his son, he says mischievously: "I played with two feet. Being two-footed is important..." After all, he adds: "He only had one foot, but it was better than both of mine put together."
Ludovic Magnin sums up blue Sport after the joint visit to his parents' house. "Now you know why I have such a big 'purr'." In other words: funny, charismatic, direct.
