Official | Luís Castro appointed head coach of FC Nantes | OneFootball

FC Nantes have officially appointed Portuguese coach Luis Castro as their new head coach on a two-year deal, with an option for a third season. The 45-year-old joins from Ligue 2 side Dunkerque, where he had been under contract until 2027.

Castro replaces Antoine Kombouaré, who was dismissed in May after a second spell in charge of Les Canaris. In a statement, the club praised Castro for his “attacking philosophy, human qualities and his ability to integrate young players into a professional group.”

Castro’s backroom staff will be finalised in the coming days, but he will be accompanied by assistant José Costa – who worked alongside him at Dunkerque – fellow assistant Rui Cunha, performance lead Francisco Calvete, and goalkeeping coach Faouzi Amzal.

Nantes are understood to have paid €750,000, including add-ons, to secure Castro’s services. He notably rose to prominence during his tenure in charge of Benfica’s U19 side, whom he led to the UEFA Youth League title in 2022, before impressing in two seasons at senior level with USL Dunkerque. Under Castro, the northern club finished 4th in Ligue 2 and reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France – the best campaign in their history.GFFN | George Boxall