Nantes bring back Antoine Kombouare to fight relegation

Nantes have re-appointed Antoine Kombouare as coach with the mission of keeping one of France’s most storied clubs in the top flight.

Kombouare, whose previous coaching stint ended in acrimony ten months ago, replaces Jocelyn Gourvennec.

With eight matches remaining, the eight-time French champions are 16th in the league, two points above the relegation zone.

Nantes slumped to a third straight league loss over the weekend, a defeat that sealed Gourvennec’s fate. The team lost 10 of its 15 total matches under Gourvennec after his arrival in late November.

“We need a jolt to recreate good dynamics, hope,” Nantes president Waldemar Kita told L’Equipe newspaper. “If we don’t act, we will go down for sure.”

Kombouare, who was reportedly at odds with Kita when he was fired, has deep links with Nantes.

He was part of the team when the Stade de la Beaujoire opened in 1984 and played 177 games as a rugged defender for the club.

Kita said he will put past disagreements aside. “He is a man who knows how to hold a locker room together,” he said.