Super Eagles star Moses Simon gets former Lille man as new boss after Nantes FC part ways with Pierre Aristouy

Super Eagles striker Moses Simon will no longer work with head coach Pierre Aristouy after Nantes parted ways with the French tactician, Soccernet.ng reports.

In his stead, Nantes has appointed former Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec. The 50-year-old had been unemployed for over a year since leaving Lille.

Gourvennec’s coaching prowess was highlighted by his victorious campaign with Lille, securing the 2021 Trophée des Champions with a 1–0 win against PSG.

Nantes Football Club bid farewell to Aristouy and his coaching staff on Wednesday following a lackluster performance, securing only one point in their last four Ligue 1 matches.

Aristouy, who won the Ligue 1 title with Nantes in 2001 as a player, was appointed the club’s manager on 9th May 2023, and he has lasted barely seven months at the helm.

The former Nantes youth coach faced the axe after a short-lived stint leading the senior team. Despite clinching the league title with Nantes U19 in his debut season, the 43-year-old could not replicate the success at the senior level.

His elevation to the top spot came after the departure of Antoine Kombouare, with the club teetering on the edge of relegation in their final four games of the 2022/2023 season.

Nantes FC narrowly escaped relegation under Aristouy’s guidance, securing their Ligue 1 status with a crucial win against Angers on the season’s last matchday.

However, his inability to steer the team back to winning ways in the subsequent games proved decisive in the club’s decision to terminate his coaching responsibilities.

In an official statement released on Wednesday morning, FC Nantes announced the suspension of Aristouy’s coaching functions, expressing gratitude for his efforts: “FC Nantes would particularly like to thank Pierre Aristouy and his staff who put all their human qualities and talent at the service of the club. Appreciated by all, they enabled the Club to survive at the end of last season.”

Nantes sit in 11th place after 13 rounds of matches in Ligue 1 after winning four and losing six games.