International audienceFirm performance approach by the identification of key success factors (KSF) is often used in the literature in economics and management. This article proposes to identify KSF that French professional sports leagues managers consider as the most important. The analysis is about three French leagues: the first divisions of men basketball, football and rugby. The method is based on interviews with 12 managers who work in these three leagues. Results highlight 12 KSF and a percentage of controlled KSF greater in rugby than in basketball and football. This last report can be a surprise with regard to the economic domination of football Ligue 1 on the French territory but it is consistent with the ranks of the three studied...