Michel Pastor has accepted the resignation of AS Monaco’s coach Didier Deschamps. He immediately announced that the successor to the former captain of the French national team would be known within fifteen days. Since this morning, many proposals have arrived on his desk. But who would want a club that is currently 15th in Ligue 1? The editorial team at Nice-Première has thought about the best solution for the principality’s club for you.
One thing is certain: succeeding Didier Deschamps is difficult. His charisma and aura are factors that will make the task of the new Monégasque coach even more challenging.
There are two options: free agents or an internal solution. For the latter, the names are known: Jean Petit and Jean-Luc Ettori. They are tied to the club for life. They are also handling the interim for tomorrow’s match at Troyes and presumably for the arrival of the neighboring Nice team on Saturday. Ettori and Petit will play their cards during these two matches. More than just an interim, it will be a real test for these two men. They are eager to prove to Michel Pastor that they are capable of managing ASM’s squad. Two victories, and Michel Pastor will undoubtedly keep them. The last time Monaco opted for an internal solution, it proved beneficial: it was in 1999. Claude Puel led the club to the French championship title in 2000. So why not Jean Petit and Jean-Luc Ettori?
For the external option, the list is long and will never be exhaustive. Let’s limit ourselves to free agents who are French or have experience in France.
Firstly, one could think of a former house member who knows the club very well: Jean Tigana. Just like Claude Puel, he was a French champion with ASM. He was considered this summer for Lyon but Jean-Michel Aulas preferred Gérard Houllier. Jean Tigana would have the support of the fans and significant backing from Prince Albert. But does Jean Tigana have the temperamental profile that Michel Pastor is looking for? Jean Tigana wants and demands. He regularly clashed, while coaching English club Fulham, with billionaire president Al Fayed. Does Michel Pastor feel capable of granting omnipotence to Tigana? For the good of the club, why not…
If there was a ranking of coaches, the number one Frenchman would be Paul LeGuen. He has led Olympique Lyonnais to the French championship title three times in a row. Obviously, if he applied to coach Monaco, it would be incomprehensible for Michel Pastor not to give him the position. One question arises: why would Paul LeGuen apply? He has refused PSG, his heart’s club. A consultant for Canal+, he seems to want to take a sabbatical year. But if he wants to take on a big challenge: to raise a club to the same rank as OL… Under this sole condition, why not consider LeGuen for Monaco?
Guy Lacombe loves the Côte d’Azur and the Mediterranean. The former coach of AS Cannes migrated to the north of France, first to Guingamp, then to Sochaux. He was among the contenders to take over the bench at Marseille. The only snag: he was still under contract with the Sochaux club. Not for long. The conflict with his president Jean-Claude Plessis ended his Sochaux adventure. Appreciated by his peers, his technical qualities are recognized. He certainly wishes to tread the training grounds of La Turbie. His candidacy is obvious. However, he lacks the experience of big clubs. His only flaw is his temperament. At Sochaux, he clashed with Michaël Pagis, the main complaint of President Plessis. Like Tigana, he wants and demands. According to our information, Guy Lacombe has refused today to commit to Guingamp. A sign? It’s up to Michel Pastor to decide…
Certainly available, Vahid Halilhodzic seems to pay for his reputation as an authoritarian man. The long term with Coach Vahid is a risky bet. Capable of causing a shock upon his arrival by imposing work, rigor, and humility, the former PSG coach would allow a quick course correction. But after a year, his method becomes ineffective, clashing with the libertarian characters of soccer players… Choosing him will not be unanimous, neither among supporters nor players. Will Michel Pastor take this risk? The future will tell…
Raynald Denoueix, like Tigana, was tipped to succeed LeGuen at Lyon. He is a remarkable tactician. He became famous after two incredible sporting successes: first by winning Ligue 1 with Nantes and then by leading Real Sociedad to the heights of the Spanish Liga. Discrete, he advocates for change in continuity. He has a reassuring speech towards players. He knows how to restore their confidence. Confidence that the players of the Principality currently lack. Denoueix knows how to optimize the performance and qualities of each player. By electing him, Michel Pastor would choose change gently. So why not Raynald Denoueix?
Other coaches are without a club: Yvon Pouliquen (recently fired from Guingamp), Daniel Leclerq, Loïc Amisse, Gérard Gili, Yves Colleu (provided he separates from LeGuen), Jacky Bonnevay…
Unless Michel Pastor continues the career transformation of former World Champions with the surprise appointment of former Monégasque trained at the club and currently inactive Emmanuel Petit…
The name of the future coach, unless there is a surprise, is found in the lines above. Nice-première would lean towards Jean Tigana, a former member of the house. Case to follow…and response in fifteen days.
Vincent Trinquat