The Albert Centre and Santy Centre are the first to be accredited as FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in France. By awarding this label, the international football governing body recommends these institutions to world football community as an elite center dedicated to the football players and whose expertise in specialized fields is a world reference.

The candidacy of both centers was supported by the City of Lyon and Olympique Lyonnais. The momentum created by obtaining the label will lead to the creation of the Académie Médicale de Football de Lyon (AMFL), which aims to welcome, serve, treat the athletes of all levels and particularly professional footballers playing in France and worldwide.

Rémi Garde – Professional team coach of Olympique Lyonnais

– Why medical expertise is so important?

During a career of professional footballer, we are unfortunately exposed to risk of injury. When injured, we realize that the quality of medical expertise is really important. Because when a player is injured, he is upset, he loses the ability to do his job. As a result the quality of medical care is vital.

I experienced very early in my career the need to be well supported by medical staff because I had a cruciate ligaments rupture in both knees. During two years I was seeing the experts here in Lyon. I stay highly grateful for them for having healed my injury. Since the age of 22, I was able to play top-level football for 11 years. Yes, I am well placed to witness not only the need for the medical expertise, but also the necessity of the care after operations.”

“I am not surprised that FIFA decides to award the label of Medical Center of Excellence to Lyon, as the skills and experiences have been already approved. I have talked about my personal experience which was 30 years ago, since then great progress has been made, as well as the new competences have been added. Thanks to the synergy of all these competences, Lyon enjoys a wonderful network of expert. It is an extraordinary thing to be recognized by FIFA, which can reassures and protects all the players who play in Olympique Lyonnais. The label of the FIFA requires very strict criteria. I know that the experts, with the support of Olympique Lyonnais, have worked hard during almost two years in order to obtain this label. It is important for all those involved in the daily life of Olympique Lyonnais to know that they are protected by the professionals recognized by the highest governing body of the world football.”

Dr.Michel D’HOOGHE – President of FIFA and UEFA medical committee

I am glad to come here to officially inaugurate the FIFA Medical Center of Excellence in Lyon, who units Albert Trillat and Santy orthopedic center. This is the first FIFA Medical Center of Excellence accredited in France. The centers who receive the label of FIFA should meet some important criteria. Firstly, these centers must have a large sports related medical practice. Second, they must have an educational aspect, they must train doctors and paramedics specialized in sports medicine. Third, they must actively participate in research in the field of sports medicine and have publications. And fourth, very important, they must be willing to comply with the medical strategy of FIFA, who governs all these centers and encourages exchanges between these centers to expand statistics for epidemiology of sports medicine. I really want to congratulate the city of Lyon and the two centers for this accreditation which I consider very important.

Younès KABUL – defender of Tottenham Hotspur, French international, whose left knee has been operated in Lyon in August 2012 (patellar tendon).

“I had an injury at the patellar tendon on the left. I had a surgery this summer in Lyon by a well-known surgeon. Now I’m doing my rehabilitation. I feel very satisfied, thanks to the service of doctors, everything is going very well. I also had a surgery for the ligament of the right knee seven years ago at this same place. Since then I kept very good relation with the doctors here. I appreciate a lot their effectiveness. I feel that I can have the confidence on them. Several professional athletes, either footballer or rugby man are all getting satisfying results here. That’s why everybody continues to come.”

Jean-Alain BOUMSONG – Panathinaikos defender, former French international

“This collective consultation, which brings together a group of specialists, allows having a much more accurate diagnosis than just one doctor. The clubs are a little bit reluctant to “outsource” their medical service. I think it may be a mistake, because there are other specialists who can handle difficult cases. Therefore I think all clubs should seek the advice of experts who are qualified and who are recognized. This would reassure even the club doctor in his diagnosis to have a second opinion of other specialists. “