FC Nantes have confirmed the appointment of Michel Der Zakarian as their manager. The former centre-back has agreed to replace Vahid Halilhodzic, who left his post after failing to steer Les Canaris out of the drop zone. Nantes have finished the Ligue 1 season second-to-bottom to join Metz in the second-tier, burning through three different head coaches – Luis Castro, Ahmed Kantari and Halilhodzic – in the process.
Der Zakarian was a free agent for a year. His last spell as manager was at Kylian Mbappé-owned Stade Malherbe de Caen. The experienced Franco-Armenian head coach returns to his formative side after previous spells as head coach from 2007 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2016. The 63-year-old notably won the French league title with Nantes in 1983. Michel Der Zakarian has signed a two-year deal with Les Canaris.
