Antoine Kombouaré returns to Strasbourg, where his coaching journey began | OneFootball

Antoine Kombouaré, newly appointed manager of promoted Paris FC, returns to Strasbourg on Sunday at 15:00, nearly 23 years after launching his senior coaching career there. He will find a revamped Meinau very different from the one he knew.

L'Équipe reports that the New Caledonia-born coach led Racing from June 2003 to October 2004, his second season cut short amid poor results. He arrived from four years with PSG’s reserves, fresh off a CFA title, having also been sounded out by Vahid Halilhodzic to become his assistant in Paris.

At the same time Strasbourg sought a successor to Ivan Hasek, with president Egon Gindorf and chief executive Marc Keller interviewing experienced candidates as well as the untested Kombouaré. Keller later said he saw a loyal, energetic leader and believed he was made for the top level.

Since then he has coached every year, and Paris FC are the 10th professional club of his career, nine in France plus Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Strasbourg remains a defining chapter for him, alongside Nantes and PSG.

His ties to Alsace are also personal. His son Yann met his future wife in the region, their children have Pacific and Alsatian roots, and the in-laws live close to the German border.

He visits from time to time, although his son’s father-in-law supports Racing. Kombouaré joked he would make no gifts today, and said he told Keller they would win as his return present.

Source: L'Équipe