Emmanuel Gambardella

Emmanuel Gambardella (3 July 1888 – 30 August 1953) was a French sports journalist and author. He was the first president of the Ligue de Football Professionnel. His positive influence on French football led to the French Football Federation naming the country's prestigious under-18 youth cup tournament after him.

Career Gambardella who was born to a family of Italian origin studied at the municipal college of his hometown of Sète. At age 16, he participated in the establishment of AS Sétoise in 1904. In addition to playing football as a goalkeeper and being a secretary at his club, he joined the regional committee of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA) in 1909. In 1910–1912, he joined the French Army, and was recruited during the First World War (1914–1918), where he was transferred, due to physical deficiencies, to the health service between Perpignan and Amélie-les-Bains.

After his burial in the marine cemetery of Sète, his name was given in 1953 to the Coupe Nationale des Juniors, to be known as the Coupe Gambardella.

Honours Knight of the Legion of Honor (1935)