After a crushing 0-5 defeat by Olympique de Marseille on Sunday, Montpellier, now at the bottom of Ligue 1 after eight matches, has parted ways with their head coach Michel Der Zakarian. This decision was confirmed by club president Laurent Nicollin during a live interview on DAZN.
It’s the end of the road for Der Zakarian. Having returned to the club in February 2023, he was under contract until June of next year, but Montpellier’s poor start to the season has proven too costly. Der Zakarian was dismissed on Sunday evening, making him the first Ligue 1 manager to lose his job this season.
When asked how he felt about the situation, Nicollin responded bluntly: « How am I? That doesn’t matter. The important thing is the club’s future. Unfortunately, I took the initiative to part ways with Michel tonight. I spoke with him in the locker room and told him it was over. I also informed the players that, thanks to their ‘great work,’ they’ve gotten their coach fired, so it’s now up to them to take responsibility against Toulouse this Sunday. »
Two Former PSG Managers in the Running
« This isn’t the magic fix, but it’s the easiest way to shake things up and make everyone realize we’re heading straight for Ligue 2 if nothing changes, » Nicollin continued. « We want to find someone who shares our DNA, someone ready to take on the challenge and fight. »
But who will take over? Two former PSG coaches are reportedly in the mix: Christophe Galtier, currently managing Al-Duhail Sports Club, and Paul Le Guen, who has been without a club since leaving Le Havre. Other names in consideration include Habib Beye, Claude Puel, Jean-Louis Gasset, and Philippe Montanier.
