Christophe Galtier, Lille’s manager who just led the side to a Ligue 1 title, decided to leave the club just days after. He had originally joined Lille in 2017 after eight years with Saint-Etienne.

“With Christophe, we knew each other before working together in Lille,” Lille president Olivier Letang said. “There has always been a lot of respect between us and our relationship has grown even stronger during our collaboration over the past five months. I naturally tried to convince him, but I believe his decision was already made.”

This was Lille’s first top-flight trophy since 2011.

“All Lille residents will keep wonderful memories of his time at LOSC, with the crowning glory of this title of champion of France,” Letang added. “We can only thank him for everything he has brought here.”

Lille clinched the title this past Sunday following a 2-1 win over Angers. 83 points on the season table was a new club record, finishing 1 point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020-2021 campaign.

Galtier, now 54 years old, actually played for Lille for three years between 1978-1980. When he took over the club in 2017, they were in the relegation zone.

“I have informed my president, Olivier Letang, having listened to him a lot, that I am going to leave Lille,” Galtier said. “I simply feel that my time here is done. A cycle of four years is quite long for a coach.”

Lille, and Galtier’s, call to fame this season was the defense as they conceded only 23 goals in 38 league matches.

According to some reports, Galtier has thus far been linked to potential openings with Nice and Lyon.