Nantes sack Aristouy, hire former player Gourvennec after winless run

Ligue 1 club Nantes announced the appointment of Jocelyn Gourvennec as coach on Wednesday after earlier parting ways with Pierre Aristouy following a run of poor results.

"FC Nantes have appointed Jocelyn Gourvennec (51) as head coach of the professional squad," said the club.

The former Nantes playmaker has signed a contract until the end of the 2023-2024 season, with an optional extra year, according to the club's statement.

Gourvennec made his name in coaching when he oversaw Guingamp between 2010 and 2016, masterminding the club's rise to Ligue 1 and a French Cup win in consecutive seasons.

Subsequently, he has had less successful stints at Bordeaux and Lille, as well as a brief return to Guingamp in 2018-19.

Previous coach Aristouy's fate was sealed when Nantes drew with Le Havre last weekend after a run of three consecutive defeats, leaving the club in 11th place in the table with 15 points from 13 games.

"FC Nantes announce the suspension of the coaching role of Pierre Aristouy and his staff as of this morning," the club said in a statement earlier on Wednesday, prior to naming Gourvennec as successor.

Nantes has been a turbulent destination for coaches in the last two decades, with 22 used in 22 years.

Aristouy, another former Nantes player, was named towards the end of last season in place of the sacked Antoine Kombouare and guided the club to Ligue 1 safety with a 1-0 win against already-relegated Angers.

Despite their struggles in the league, Nantes have reached the French Cup final in each of the last two seasons, winning the trophy in 2022.