His voice quivers. The announcement of his departure, two days earlier by President Laurent Nicollin, torments Der Zak ‘. Sunday May 2, after the defeat at home in front of Saint-Etienne (1-2), this tough guy, hermetic, not very talkative, so uncomfortable with him and the others, lets an emotion filter in spite of himself. A tremor of pain, a scratch of pride, the rash of disappointment.
Friday April 30, the president of Montpellier and his coach ended four seasons (2017-2021) “by mutual agreement” according to Der Zak ‘. At the end of a face-to-face interview. ” We leave after four good years. When I took over the team, they had finished at 17e place the previous year. I hope that we will stay in the top ten, to finish the four years in the first half of the ranking. It’s not bad considering our budget (12e). I had a good time with all the components of the club. It’s a great adventure that ends, it’s the life of a coach “, He testified while he still has a semi-final of the Coupe de France Wednesday May 12 to freeze in the history of Montpellier a long and fruitful passage. A lasting and rare passage.
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Der Zak ‘stabilized Montpellier
Michel Der Zakarian, 58 years old, arrives in the summer of 2017. A summer bruised by the disappearance of “Loulou” Nicollin, icon founder of La Paillade in 1974 and omnipotent president. Obviously, everyone is wondering about the rest. Laurent Nicollin and Der Zak ‘, in well-distributed roles, have taken on a heavy legacy. Without cloning his father, the first perpetuated the good management of Montpellier. Alongside Michel Mézy, advisor to the president, and Bruno Carotti, sports director, the second managed the team to obtain consistent results.
After four unstable seasons, with four coaches in four years in the wake of the passage of René Girard (2009-13), Der Zak ‘stabilized Montpellier. Without false fear, without pretense. By immersing himself in this clan club of which he knew the inner workings perfectly, having evolved there for 18 years.
Discreet, economical with his words and little media, the technician focused on the field to lead his team to the 10e place (2017-18), around a solid defense, then in the 6e place (2018-19), after the recruitment of the trio Mollet, Delort and Laborde. A choice as inspired as it is decisive. ” Each time, we weren’t very far from Europe “, He recalled after the defeat to the Greens without knowing if a qualification in the Europa League would have earned him a contract extension or would have accelerated his departure. The last two seasons, the previous one interrupted by the Covid (8e), and the current one (8e) leave a taste of unfinished business with regard to the recruitment effort, marked by the arrivals of Teji Savanier, the biggest transfer in Pailladin history, Jordan Ferri, then Stephy Mavididi or Jonas Omlin.
« We’ve had the best team for a long time Recently judged President Laurent Nicollin. Does Der Zak ‘pay for European frustration? Has he not fully succeeded in the transfer of a team now turned towards attack but weighed down this season by defense? Or has the coach suffered certain choices, such as the departure of defensive midfielder Ellyes Skhiri in 2019 (Cologne), to pay the price? Vast debate for a technician who always favors the collective dimension. That of the team and the club.
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Looking for a trainer
« let’s move on to something else “, Justified Laurent Nicollin, little said on a choice which comes from afar. Since the end of the autumn, Montpellier has been tracking several coaches, in particular the former Lyonnais Bruno Genesio. After a stint in China, to cut ties with OL, Genesio (54) was on the French market. And his profile pleased. Attached to the Lyon institution, able to compose with President Jean-Michel Aulas, follower of a management at the level of men and turned towards an offensive game, he responded to a new ideal before he committed to Rennes to replace Julien Stephan in March.
On the sidelines of the end of the season, without any stake in the league and focused on the Coupe de France, Montpellier is therefore looking for a coach, close to the portrait of Genesio.
Christophe Pélissier, a man who revealed himself to Luzenac (2007-14) before bringing Amiens and Lorient back to Ligue 1, Olivier Dall’Oglio, Alésien who succeeded in Dijon and Brest around an attacking game, and Laurent Battles, which emancipated itself in Troyes, seem to be more serious avenues than Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg) or Jean-Louis Gasset (Bordeaux). Battles, which conveys a good image, would have supporters within the Hérault club. The former Toulouse midfielder, who ended his playing career in 2012 in Saint-Etienne, rubbed shoulders with Laurent Nicollin’s close guard: Philippe Delaye, Jean-Christophe Rouvière or Bruno Carotti. Big debate and negotiation.
If the future coach succeeds a four-year term, he could have the privilege of inaugurating the new stadium.
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