FC Nantes sack Michel Der Zakarian after three straight defeats | OneFootball

According to Le Progres, FC Nantes have sacked Michel Der Zakarian after three defeats in three Ligue 2 matches, a run that leaves last season’s relegated side bottom of the table.

Der Zakarian, 63, returned for a third spell but could not survive Saturday’s 5-2 home collapse against Rodez, having led 2-1 at half-time.

Grégory Poirier, formerly of Red Star, is the favourite to replace him, while Antoine Kombouaré has declined a third stint.

Any appointment would be the club’s 24th head coach since 2007, when the Kita family took charge. Three men held the job last season, Luis Castro, Ahmed Kantari and Vahid Halilhodzic, who came out of retirement.

Der Zakarian’s brief tenure sets a club record for the shortest spell by a non-interim coach, just three official matches, shorter than Miguel Cardoso, Raymond Domenech and Halilhodzic, each on eight.

His appointment had raised eyebrows given a difficult 2024/2025 across Montpellier then Caen, producing 2 wins and 12 defeats in 19 games. After the heavy loss this weekend, he said those unhappy with his work could dismiss him and that players needed to rouse themselves.

The problems appear deeper, with questions over player mentality and a thin sporting structure. Turning the situation around looks a sizeable task.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”