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Presentation of issue No. 9 of the journal Football(s): "Merci patrons!"
Forget the stadium atmosphere for a moment and step into the boardroom of global football to decode the real power dynamics at play. This academic gathering peels back the layers of leadership behind club presidents and federations to reveal how business and passion truly collide. Perfect for those who prefer to look past the scoreline and examine the hidden forces shaping their favorite sport.
Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (FMSH) (Paris 6th)
About
The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme hosts a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00, marking the launch of the 9th issue of Football(s) journal, titled "Merci patrons!". This event investigates the power dynamics behind club presidents and coaches, blending economic and historical analysis. Tailored for an adult audience aged 18 and over, this session is free to attend and held in a venue that is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Join researchers to explore the multifaceted nature of football beyond the pitch.
Who runs football? Behind the iconic figures of club presidents, federation leaders, or coaches, forms of power, leadership, and influence emerge that durably shape this sport.
The FMSH is pleased to host the Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté for a roundtable on the occasion of the publication of the ninth issue of the journal Football(s). Histoire, culture, économie, société. Focus on the dossier "Merci patrons!" (Thanks, Bosses!), coordinated by Olivier Chovaux and François Da Rocha Carneiro, which will provide the thread for the discussion.
Beyond the touch of humor, its title, "Merci patrons!", indicates that it questions the figure of the club and federation president, but also the leadership of those on the ground. Between a mythological figure — in the sense understood by Roland Barthes —, a patron, and a manager, the football boss reveals as much about the masculine culture of football as its economic dimension.
True to the spirit of the Football(s) journal, this meeting invites researchers and the public to exchange, by crossing disciplinary perspectives (notably history and economics) on football envisioned as a political, economic, social, and cultural phenomenon.
About the speakers
Paul Dietschy is editor-in-chief of the journal Football(s), professor of contemporary history at the Lucien Febvre Centre, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur. A specialist in football, he has published reference works on the subject, with a historical approach, and regularly appears in national media, at events, and publishes in international journals.
Luc Arrondel, economist, research director at the CNRS, is an associate member of the Paris School of Economics, and a member of the editorial board of the journal Football(s). A specialist in the economics of football, he publishes numerous articles on the economics of this sport in academic and general public journals and monographs, and appears in national media. He is also the author of reference works.
Olivier Chovaux is a university professor of contemporary history at the University of Artois, and a delegate to the Professional Football League. A specialist in historical and arbitration issues in football, he is regularly solicited by national media while publishing his work.
François Carneiro da Rocha is a doctor of history, associate researcher (University of Artois), and history-geography teacher (Lycée Jean-Moulin, Roubaix). A specialist in the history of French football, to which he has devoted several works, he regularly appears in numerous media.
About the journal Football(s)
Bringing together a team of specialists from various human and social sciences (economics, ethnology, geography, history, literature, sociology), the journal considers football, understood in its different variants, through thematic dossiers by crossing these various approaches. Particular attention is paid to sources, memory, heritage, representations, and the material culture of the different footballs.
The journal Football(s). Histoire, culture, économie, société is published and distributed by FMSH Diffusion/distribution. Discover the 60 publishing houses and scientific publishers in its catalog.
Our take on this event
On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme presents an exclusive roundtable focusing on the latest issue of the academic journal Football(s). Running from 18:30 to 20:00, the session centers on the theme "Merci patrons!", which examines the influence, leadership, and management roles held by figures within professional football. Coordinated by Olivier Chovaux and François Da Rocha Carneiro, the discussion unpacks the cultural and economic structures that define the sport's leadership.
Expert speakers include editor-in-chief Paul Dietschy, economist Luc Arrondel, and the dossier coordinators themselves, Olivier Chovaux and François Da Rocha Carneiro. Through their diverse backgrounds in contemporary history and economics, the panel provides a deep dive into football as a complex political and social phenomenon, moving past the common myths surrounding club management.
This event is open to individuals 18 years and older. Admission is free, and the location on Boulevard Raspail is equipped to be accessible for wheelchair users. It is a unique opportunity for those interested in the scholarly study of sports culture to engage with specialists in a welcoming, academic environment.
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