Gabriel Hanot (6 November 1889 – 10 August 1968) was a French footballer and journalist (the editor of L'Équipe). The European Cup—which became the UEFA Champions League—was the brainchild of Hanot, as was the Ballon d'Or, an award that honours the male player deemed to have performed the best over the previous year.

Biography

He made 12 appearances for the France national football team, with his debut coming on 8 March 1908 against Switzerland. He was also part of France's squad for the football tournament at the 1908 Summer Olympics, but he did not play in any matches. He made another 10 appearances for them up to World War I. After the war he played one more time for France, as captain against Belgium on 9 March 1919. Following an aviation accident he gave up football and became a journalist. He is credited with introducing the professional championship in France, in 1932. Hanot and his colleague at L'Équipe Jacques Ferran were the prime movers behind getting the European Cup established.