Nantes Appoint Grégory Poirier to Replace Michel Der Zakarian

Nantes have made a significant change to their coaching staff, appointing Grégory Poirier to replace Michel Der Zakarian. This decision comes after Der Zakarian’s dismissal on Monday, following three consecutive defeats that left the club at the bottom of Ligue 2.

Poirier, 44, brings a wealth of experience to Nantes, having led Red Star over the past two seasons. During his tenure, he guided the team to a fourth-place finish last spring and narrowly missed out on promotion.

Prior to his stint at Red Star, Poirier was in charge of Martigues from 2021 to 2024, leading the team from the fourth tier to Ligue 2. He has now signed a two-year deal with Nantes and will look to turn their season around.

The appointment of Poirier is seen as a positive move by many, given his impressive track record in French football. However, it remains to be seen whether he can inspire the team to climb out of the relegation zone and achieve a respectable finish in Ligue 2.