6 days ago
FC Nantes are considering the dismissal of head coach Michel Der Zakarian should Antoine Kombouaré be available for a third spell in the dugout, according to a report on Sunday from Foot Mercato. Les Canaris are in disarray after losing their first two games of the Ligue 2 campaign following their relegation from the first tier in May. Nantes were powerless against Red Star (0-1) and conceded defeat in the dying minutes against Laval (2-1) after a blunder from Tylel Tati.
Nantes targeted an immediate return to Ligue 1 in 2027, but they now sit at the bottom of Ligue 2, which considerably weakens Der Zakarian's position. The former Nantes centre-back previously led Les Canaris to two Ligue 1 promotions, in 2008 and in 2013, in two different spells. But his third one could be cut short.
Foot Mercato reports that Nantes would part ways with Der Zakarian should there is a possibility for Kombouaré to return for a third spell at La Beaujoire. Kombouaré notably won the 2022 French Cup with his formative side. He was dismissed the following season only for him to return in 2024.
Let go at the end of the 2024-2025 campaign, Kombouaré oversaw a remarkable upturn in form at Paris FC, which he led to safety before PFC parted ways with him to appoint Liam Rosenior. Thr 62-year-old Kombouaré reportedly intends to take a short break from management.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
#ligue #zakarian #canaris
Nantes targeted an immediate return to Ligue 1 in 2027, but they now sit at the bottom of Ligue 2, which considerably weakens Der Zakarian's position. The former Nantes centre-back previously led Les Canaris to two Ligue 1 promotions, in 2008 and in 2013, in two different spells. But his third one could be cut short.
Foot Mercato reports that Nantes would part ways with Der Zakarian should there is a possibility for Kombouaré to return for a third spell at La Beaujoire. Kombouaré notably won the 2022 French Cup with his formative side. He was dismissed the following season only for him to return in 2024.
Let go at the end of the 2024-2025 campaign, Kombouaré oversaw a remarkable upturn in form at Paris FC, which he led to safety before PFC parted ways with him to appoint Liam Rosenior. Thr 62-year-old Kombouaré reportedly intends to take a short break from management.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
#ligue #zakarian #canaris
25 days ago
AS Monaco and FC Nantes are reported to have reached a full agreement on the transfer of Matthis Abline (23) to the club on The Rock, according to information from Foot Mercato.
Eager to join ASM, the striker is set to sign a four-year contract as part of a deal estimated at €30m – €25m plus €5m in bonuses. This represents a colossal sum for Les Canaris, who are set to finalise the biggest sale in their history.
Having already been close to leaving Brittany a year ago, Abline is now set to finally make his move, following a season in which he scored eight goals and provided seven **** ists in 34 appearances, despite Nantes' relegation to Ligue 2.
At Monaco, the Angers-born player will need to quickly prove himself up to the task, as he is set to replace Folarin Balogun (25) – who enjoyed a standout World Cup and is expected to leave the club this summer – at the forefront of the Monegasque attack.
GFFN | Léo Aschi
#nantes #abline #year #foot
Eager to join ASM, the striker is set to sign a four-year contract as part of a deal estimated at €30m – €25m plus €5m in bonuses. This represents a colossal sum for Les Canaris, who are set to finalise the biggest sale in their history.
Having already been close to leaving Brittany a year ago, Abline is now set to finally make his move, following a season in which he scored eight goals and provided seven **** ists in 34 appearances, despite Nantes' relegation to Ligue 2.
At Monaco, the Angers-born player will need to quickly prove himself up to the task, as he is set to replace Folarin Balogun (25) – who enjoyed a standout World Cup and is expected to leave the club this summer – at the forefront of the Monegasque attack.
GFFN | Léo Aschi
#nantes #abline #year #foot
1 month ago
Despite relegation to Ligue 2, FC Nantes continue to hold out for a big bid for Matthis Abline (23). As per a report from L'Équipe Les Canaris have rejected another offer for the France youth international.
Last summer, Nantes valued Abline between €40-50m. Despite interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Paris FC, notably, that valuation was not met and so he consequently remained at the Beaujoire. The Frenchman had a middling season, however (34 games, eight goals) as Nantes were relegated from Ligue 1.
His future is once again a hot topic. He has already been the subject of a bid from AS Monaco worth €20m. The Principality club remain in contact with their counterparts at Nantes. They face strong competition from Paris FC, who have retained their long-term interest and submitted a €23m bid, as per L'Équipe. It is an offer that has once again been rejected.
However, there is a sign that Nantes are budging on their valuation. The Loire-based club expected a minimum of €30m, down from the €40m touted last summer and cited as recently as last month.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
Last summer, Nantes valued Abline between €40-50m. Despite interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Paris FC, notably, that valuation was not met and so he consequently remained at the Beaujoire. The Frenchman had a middling season, however (34 games, eight goals) as Nantes were relegated from Ligue 1.
His future is once again a hot topic. He has already been the subject of a bid from AS Monaco worth €20m. The Principality club remain in contact with their counterparts at Nantes. They face strong competition from Paris FC, who have retained their long-term interest and submitted a €23m bid, as per L'Équipe. It is an offer that has once again been rejected.
However, there is a sign that Nantes are budging on their valuation. The Loire-based club expected a minimum of €30m, down from the €40m touted last summer and cited as recently as last month.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
2 months ago
Speaking ahead of the return for pre-season, FC Nantes CEO and son of owner Waldemar Kita, Franck, had addressed Les Canaris’ catastrophic 2025/26 campaign, which ended with relegation to Ligue 2.
“When we win, it’s thanks to everyone; when we lose, I take full responsibility. I am the boss, I am the owner of the club, I am the one to blame, first and foremost. I am the only one to blame. I take full responsibility for us coming off the road, this relegation, which I ****** ume entirely,” he began.
His comments were the first made since the club’s relegation to Ligue 2. As is often the case, there was no post-season review with the media. Nantes’ final game of the season, meanwhile, was abandoned in the first half after angry fans stormed the pitch.
Kita was also there to present Nantes’ new manager, Michel Der Zakarian. The club burned through three managers last season, ending the campaign with Vahid Halilhodzic at the helm. Kita said that the degree of change last summer played a big part in the club’s failure.
“It’s true that I like it when there is a bit of stability and the fact that we radically changed things: new players, new coaches, disturbed people’s reference points. We didn’t put anyone in good conditions, in the right context and so, for me, that is why we were relegated.”
“When we win, it’s thanks to everyone; when we lose, I take full responsibility. I am the boss, I am the owner of the club, I am the one to blame, first and foremost. I am the only one to blame. I take full responsibility for us coming off the road, this relegation, which I ****** ume entirely,” he began.
His comments were the first made since the club’s relegation to Ligue 2. As is often the case, there was no post-season review with the media. Nantes’ final game of the season, meanwhile, was abandoned in the first half after angry fans stormed the pitch.
Kita was also there to present Nantes’ new manager, Michel Der Zakarian. The club burned through three managers last season, ending the campaign with Vahid Halilhodzic at the helm. Kita said that the degree of change last summer played a big part in the club’s failure.
“It’s true that I like it when there is a bit of stability and the fact that we radically changed things: new players, new coaches, disturbed people’s reference points. We didn’t put anyone in good conditions, in the right context and so, for me, that is why we were relegated.”
3 months ago
Although FC Nantes will be playing in Ligue 2 next season after finishing 17th in the table, Anthony Lopes (35) will remain in Ligue 1 for a few more months.
With his contract with Les Canaris due to expire next June, the Portuguese goalkeeper is set to sign a two-year deal with SCO Angers, according to L’Équipe. An option for a further year has also been included in the deal.
Having enjoyed a satisfying season on a personal level, Lopes will bring all his experience (he has played 427 matches in the French league, the majority for Olympique Lyonnais) to an Angers side now bereft of Hervé Koffi (29), whose loan from RC Lens came to an end at the close of the season.
A starter in all 31 matches he played for Nantes this season (17 of them as captain), Lopes kept six clean sheets and conceded a total of 51 goals.
GFFN | Léo Aschi
With his contract with Les Canaris due to expire next June, the Portuguese goalkeeper is set to sign a two-year deal with SCO Angers, according to L’Équipe. An option for a further year has also been included in the deal.
Having enjoyed a satisfying season on a personal level, Lopes will bring all his experience (he has played 427 matches in the French league, the majority for Olympique Lyonnais) to an Angers side now bereft of Hervé Koffi (29), whose loan from RC Lens came to an end at the close of the season.
A starter in all 31 matches he played for Nantes this season (17 of them as captain), Lopes kept six clean sheets and conceded a total of 51 goals.
GFFN | Léo Aschi
3 months ago
Perhaps FC Nantes needed to be relegated to Ligue 2 to kick off the new era that all the fans have been waiting for. But for Les Canaris, change is not necessarily an idea that everyone is in favour of.
Proof of this can be seen in their attraction to Michel Der Zakarian, 63, who, according to L’Équipe, is being lined up to succeed Vahid Halilhodžić, 74, for whom the end of the season marked the well-deserved end of his career.
Having managed Nantes from February 2007 to August 2008, and then from May 2012 to June 2016, ‘Der Zak’ is seen as the man capable of leading the Stade de la Beaujoire side back to the top flight by the 2027–28 season. A task that seems well within the Armenian coach’s capabilities, having already secured two promotions with FCN, in 2008 and 2013.
A resident of the Nantes area, he was apparently even spotted at the final of the Challenge Espoirs, won by the Nantes youth team a few weeks ago. This is enough to fuel speculation about a… third comeback.
GFFN | Léo Aschi
Proof of this can be seen in their attraction to Michel Der Zakarian, 63, who, according to L’Équipe, is being lined up to succeed Vahid Halilhodžić, 74, for whom the end of the season marked the well-deserved end of his career.
Having managed Nantes from February 2007 to August 2008, and then from May 2012 to June 2016, ‘Der Zak’ is seen as the man capable of leading the Stade de la Beaujoire side back to the top flight by the 2027–28 season. A task that seems well within the Armenian coach’s capabilities, having already secured two promotions with FCN, in 2008 and 2013.
A resident of the Nantes area, he was apparently even spotted at the final of the Challenge Espoirs, won by the Nantes youth team a few weeks ago. This is enough to fuel speculation about a… third comeback.
GFFN | Léo Aschi
