Veteran coach Jean-Louis Gasset is stepping out of retirement to try to get his hometown club, struggling Montpellier, back on track.
The 70-year-old Frenchman, who had retired in May, was hired Tuesday to replace Michel Der Zakarian as coach, the club said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Der Zakarian lost his job after Montpellier was routed 5-0 at home by Marseille for its sixth loss in eight matches this season. The result left the 2012 French champions in last place, having conceded 26 goals already in a season marking the club’s 50th anniversary.
Although little known abroad, Gasset has vast experience in France, having spent time at various clubs including previous stints with Montpellier, Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux and Marseille. He was also assistant to Laurent Blanc when Blanc served as France manager and coach of Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain.
Before starting his coaching career, Gasset played for 10 years in Montpellier from 1975-85. He was born in the Mediterranean city and is the son of Bernard Gasset, who founded the club alongside Louis Nicollin.
Last season, Gasset guided Marseille into the Europa League semifinals after replacing Gennaro Gattuso in February amid a mediocre campaign for the French league powerhouse. But he was unable to improve the club’s poor record on the road and Marseille did not qualify for a European tournament.
“His most recent experience, on the Marseille bench last season, demonstrated his ability to revitalize teams losing momentum," Montpellier said in a statement. “That is the challenge that now awaits him at Montpellier.”
Montpellier won the French league title once, in 2012. The club also won the second division title in 1987 and the French Cup in 1990 with a team featuring the likes of Blanc, Eric Cantona and Julio Cesar.
It's not the first time that Gasset will lead a rescue mission at Montpellier. He succeeded in that task during the 2016-17 season when he saved the club from relegation.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press
