As he received last November, the question, asked Jean-François Collet, a half-hour cooling-off period. That was enough to organize the thoughts and rules with a phone call, the employment Situation of the case. Then he reported: “I’m ready.”
This means: He stands for election as the new President of the Swiss football Association (SFV) and the successor of Peter Gilliéron, standing down after ten years. The Committee of the Swiss Football League (SFL) has nominated its Vice-President as a candidate. League President Heinrich Schifferle packaged his argument in one sentence: “Collet is the absolute ideal cast would be.”
The fight has already begun
In Renens has withdrawn Collet in a meeting room of the company “Grand Chelem Management SA”, an Agency for sports marketing and Events, which he founded in 2000, built up a thriving operation, and 15 years later has sold. Not just anybody, but to his long-time companion and friend Alain Joseph. Collet longed for more freedom and a life with less responsibility.
Now, the 51-Year-old is “financially independent,” he says. He has released, but from the companies he got away but not quite. He calls it “my Baby”, he takes care of in the function of a CEO. “But I don’t work, because I have to, but because it is a pleasure,” he says, “the big pressure is off.” His workload is 80 percent, soon he wants to reduce it to 60. And maybe he needs to rethink his employment once again, if it should determine the delegates to the SFA to the successor of President Peter Gilliéron. His contract binds him until 2021 at Grand Chelem Management, would not fail in the commitment.
“I’m Aries. I can fight, and I’ll do it,”Jean-Fraçois Collet
Since half a year is a Collet on it to make advertising for themselves, at the Assembly of delegates a good figure. He requires pretty good arguments to convince the majority of the 101 delegates, and against his two competitors: Kurt Zuppinger (First League) and Dominique Blanc (Amateur League). The First League is entitled to cast 26 votes, the Amateur League 47. The Swiss Football League is entitled to vote, with 28 delegates. “I’m Aries,” says Collet, “I can fight, and I’ll do it.” And: “anyone Who wants to progress in the Swiss soccer , I will choose to be.” A first stage of the League: they want to bring their representatives in the second round.
Before the Collet is accompanied by a brochure, in which he presents his program, as the creators positioned as a “self-made man” referred to. On the last page of a list of names of people who pledge their support: Basel President Bernhard Burgener, ATP President Chris Kermode, the former Cycling Pro Fabian Cancellara, St. Gallen-President Matthias Hüppi, tennis player Timea Cox or the Gstaad community President Toni von Grünigen are including.
Of Central importance is for the Collet, the subject of Finance. He wants to increase “the income of the SFV and the cost of operation optimize”. To him, it is a matter of concern, “to reduce the financial expenses of the Amateur clubs”. And He wants to forms with a restructuring of the Swiss Cup to a more lucrative Format than in the past for all of the Clubs and instead of 64 now 1200 clubs participate in this competition. The previous sponsorship revenue of CHF 1.3 million he referred to as “insufficient sum” – he considers that it is realistic to generate 6 million.
“football is made up of passion, emotions,” he says, “but it takes money, too.” This way of Thinking fits the people, the early entrepreneurial spirit has shaped. Collet, in Morges on lake Geneva, grows up, and his Talent as a Goalie once for the 2. League filed, concludes at the University of Lausanne to study with the Master’s degree in Economics. He starts in the professional career, among other things, he works for Swatch, and in the case of IMG in sports marketing.
Start in self-employment – in his one-roomed apartment
In the Collet of the desire to be his own boss Matures. He begins in a Small office in his one-room apartment serving him. Convince people to organize, sponsors to win, occasions – that is his world. He founded with brother-in-law of the Geneva businessman Ernesto Bertarelli, the Grand Chelem Management SA, is Director of the tennis tournament of Gstaad. His company is also growing thanks to the America’s Cup 2007: Collet and his Team are responsible for the yacht’s Marketing and sponsorship. In the same year, the Collet assumes the serbelnden football club in Lausanne, debt of 1 Million Swiss francs and the Board in 2013. Lausanne plays in the Super League and has stabilized financially.
in 2016, he is on the Committee of the Swiss Football League, select, a year later, the Romand rises to the Deputy of Heinrich schifferle. Long ago, he no longer introduces himself as “Jean-François”, but as “Jeff” Collet. The first name he put forward, as he had business abroad more and more. He says: “Jeff is less long and, above all, uncomplicated.”
And now that Jeff is aiming for the next career step. “I have collected enough experience to be the Association forward and to professionalize.” SFV President to be the means for the Collet, however, to bask in performances of the national team in the light of the Public: “The team is not thanks to the President to be successful, but thanks to your good players.” Rather, he is placed again and again the message: “I want to be President of all the footballers of Switzerland.”
Only problem is How would he accept a non-election, a defeat? “That wouldn’t put my life on the head,” he says. Collet to do a lot of things, but he also knows that not everything can be implemented. For Example? “A big dream of mine.” And what would that be? To be “President of Arsenal or Manchester United.”
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(Sunday newspaper)
Created: 29.04.2019, 11:22 PM
