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FC Montpellier Herault SC have named Michel Der Zakarian as their new head coach. The club reassigned Der Zakarian following the departure of interim manager Romain Pitau yesterday. The former footballer has lost seven of his eleven games in charge of La Paillade. FC Montpellier lost by relegation rivals Strasbourg last weekend, despite being down to 10 men for more over fifty minutes. Montpellier has dropped to fifteenth position, with a two-point advantage above the four-team relegation zone.
Der Zakarian, a former Montpellier player, was the Hérault club’s head coach from 2017 until 2021. Montpellier was a competent mid-table club and a difficult squad to play against during these years, as the Franco-Armenian placed a significant focus on tactical and defensive discipline. Montpellier Herault SC and Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) swap coaches in 2021. As well as, when Brest manager Olivier Dall’Oglio was recruited as head coach at La Paillade and Der Zakarian took over in Brittany. Both Dall’Oglio and Der Zakarian were out last fall following a succession of poor performances.Montpellier will play fourteenth-placed Brest in a high-stakes Ligue 1 encounter this Sunday.
Montpellier Herault SC re-assign Der Zakarian
Between 2017 and 2021, Der Zakarian, a Frenchman with Armenian citizenship, led Stade de la Mosson to sixth position and the French Cup semi-finals.
He also served as their assistant coach from 1998 to 2006, after completing his playing career there.
“I hope he brings all of the determination he had during his first stay with the first squad and manages to maintain the club in Ligue 1,” Montpellier president Laurent Nicollin stated.
“I hope and believe he is the right man for the job right now,” he continued.
This season, four of the 20 teams in France’s top division will be demoted when the league is reduced to 18 clubs.
Only two Ligue 2 teams are eligible for promotion.
The 59-year-first old’s game in command of the team in 15th position in the standings during his second stint will be against his previous team at Brest on Sunday. Brest is one spot above them on goal differential.
