Football is a giant industry that evolves day by day, but being a technical director at a prestigious club without previously having been a professional footballer is extremely difficult. Successful cases are rare, although things have changed in modern football. One of the most unique examples is Viktor Bezhani, who is considered one of the most successful figures in football management, even though he never experienced the emotions of being a professional football player in the past.
Toulouse is the fourth-largest city in France, located in the southern part of the country, around 150 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. It is precisely in this city, more than 600 kilometers away from Paris, that the name of Albania is being heard thanks to Viktor Bezhani, who since 2023 has become an ambassador for our country in France. The 41-year-old has built an impressive career in European football.
Viktor Bezhani’s name is gaining more and more prominence in the leadership levels of the sport, while his journey in the world of professional football has also passed through the education sector in Albania. After studies in the United States of America, which gave him a broader perspective, his UEFA Pro License specialization through the Albanian Football Federation completed his profile as a technical director. In the report series “Albanians in Europe,” Viktor Bezhani shared his journey with FSHF TV.
After beginning his career as an analyst for Croatia’s U-19 team and as an assistant coach at Anorthosis in Cyprus, he continued his adventure as a scout in 2017 at Legia Warsaw in Poland, where he also won two trophies. He then made the big step to England, where he worked with Brentford, Watford, and Leicester City, before joining Toulouse in June 2023, achieving his goal despite hundreds of applications for the position.
From British football to French football, Bezhani’s move to Toulouse proved to be the right choice, also thanks to the club’s organizational and management structure. Within the French club, appreciation for the Albanian executive is at the highest level. President Olivier Cloarec, coach Carles Martinez Novell, and British defender Charlie Cresswell have praised his professional abilities and management strategies.
“It is truly a pleasure to work with Viktor and very easy to collaborate with him. Even though, when I arrived nine months ago, we did not know each other at all. We immediately got into action because the transfer window had already started. He was head of recruitment when I arrived and was also acting sporting director, while I took over as president on July 15. We had a very important transfer window and immediately understood each other very well. Everything worked perfectly between us and I think together, with the other people at the club, we had a very successful transfer market,” Toulouse president Olivier Cloarec told FSHF TV.
Since the beginning of this season, Bezhani has taken on one of the most important roles in a football club: building the squad and the long-term strategy, after being appointed sporting director of Toulouse. The responsibility for decisions involving millions of euros, the pressure of results, and managing relationships within the club make this one of the most delicate positions in modern football. Nevertheless, the trust given to him by the French club has so far been rewarded.
Among other things, Bezhani revealed that in the past he had been close to bringing several Albanian footballers to France.
“I have watched two or three Albanian players and tried to bring them here, but for various reasons it did not happen. What I want to say is that we Albanians should support each other more and promote our successes more. Especially people like me and Igli, who are at a higher level in football, have a responsibility to help. I take it as a personal responsibility because I do not represent only myself, but also my country. And when my time here at Toulouse ends, why not have another Albanian come here and find a positive perception of us,” Bezhani said.
Being part of the leadership structure of an elite club in one of Europe’s top five leagues is undoubtedly an extraordinary achievement. Bezhani is one of those people who have preferred to speak more through their work than through media appearances. An example showing that, regardless of the path you come from, with dedication and professionalism you can achieve any goal you set for yourself.
