Nicolas Chabot, the recently named best coach of the season in the Arkema Première Ligue, is set to leave FC Nantes after reaching an agreement to terminate the final year of his contract, according to Ouest-France. The 31-year-old guided Nantes to a seventh-place finish followed by a fourth-place finish in the league, and has been linked with several clubs, particularly in Spain. However, reports suggest Chabot will remain in France.
Olympique de Marseille are currently leading the race to appoint Chabot, following their separation from Corinne Diacre. Marseille finished outside of the Champions League qualification spots last season and will be looking to challenge at the top of the table next campaign. Chabot’s success in developing a competitive Nantes side, despite limited resources, makes him an attractive candidate for the Marseille position.
Replacing Chabot at Nantes will be Pierre-Alain Picard, the former manager of Dijon. Picard, aged 35, finished sixth in the Arkema Première Ligue regular season with Dijon this past season. He takes over a Nantes team that will be aiming to build on their recent progress and again challenge for European qualification. Nantes have been a consistent presence in the top half of the table in recent years, and the club will hope Picard can continue that trend.
Chabot recently stated there would be “no loss of conditions” despite the relegation of Nantes’ men’s team to Ligue 2, suggesting his departure was not directly related to the club’s overall situation. The appointment of Picard signals a new direction for Nantes, while Marseille hope Chabot can bring sustained success to the club. This managerial shuffle represents a significant move within the Arkema Première Ligue as both clubs prepare for the upcoming season.
