Eirik Horneland left ASSE after the match against Boulogne-sur-Mer this Saturday. To replace the Norwegian, Philippe Montanier was appointed this Sunday. The former goalkeeper, who already knows the green house, has not coached since the end of his glorious stint in Toulouse. Back to his episode at Téfécé.
Since the Greens’ defeat against Reims, the future of Eirik Horneland on the Saint-Etienne bench seemed more than compromised. While Ivan Gazidis, president of ASSE, planned for the long term with the Norwegian, he only kept him for thirteen months on the bench of the Loire club.
To replace him, many names have been mentioned. Two French coaches stood out: Franck Haise and Philippe Montanier. ASSE quickly came to an agreement with the second. The man who began his coaching career at Boulogne-sur-Mer probably did not like what he saw from his new players against his former club this weekend.
Recovery objective for Montanier
After failing in the play-offs against Nantes at the end of May 2021, Toulouse is condemned to remain in Ligue 2 for the 2021-2022 season. Having made a return to Ligue 1 a priority objective, the TFC decided to part ways with former Saint-Etienne player Patrice Garande. To replace him, another former ASSE player is chosen. At the end of June, Philippe Montanier arrived at the Violets.
During the summer transfer window, the Toulouse club did not change its ambitions and notably recorded the arrivals of Mikkel Desler, Ado Onaiwu, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Rafael Ratão… An ambitious recruitment for a club which does not want to relive the frustration of the previous season.
Toulouse is a hit in Ligue 2
For its second season in the anteroom, Toulouse is off to a very strong start. Philippe Montanier’s men won seven of their first nine matches with several big victories. The TFC notably won 4-0 in Nancy, 4-2 in Dijon and even 4-1 at home against Grenoble. With 23 points taken out of 27 possible, Toulouse then made the best start to the season in its history in Ligue 2, since the championship was played in a single group.
It would be necessary to wait until the 10th day for the former Nottingham coach to experience his first setback in the Pink City. Two matches later, the Violets defeated Auxerre, one of their direct competitors for the promotion, with a score of 6-0 at the Stadium. This will be the only success for Toulouse between the 10th and 16th day. Téfécé will then return to victory against Sochaux (4-1), another direct competitor, before losing its leadership position one day before the winter break.
At the start of 2022, Toulouse returns to the championship with a bang with six victories in eight matches. Threatened 4-1 in Caen, Philippe Montanier’s men crushed Amiens 6-0 the following week. This success launched a new series of seven matches without defeat, including victories against Auxerre and Paris FC, then on the podium. The TFC validated its return to Ligue 1 on the 35th day before being crowned champion two weeks later.
Philippe Montanier brings Toulouse back to being the best attack in the championship with 82 goals scored in 38 days and is elected best coach in Ligue 2 for the 2021-2022 season. The coach also saw his playing master, Branco Van den Boomen, win the trophy for best player and best passer in Ligue 2 (20 assists, co-record holder over a season).
A new trophy for Téfécé
After this superb season, Philippe Montanier extends his contract for one season in Toulouse. The former Real Sociedad coach therefore signs until June 2024 with the Violets. For its return to the elite, Téfécé finished the season in 13th place. In a season where the bottom four are going down, the Haute-Garonne club is holding its own with thirteen points ahead of Auxerre, 17th.
At the same time, the Violets have had a good run in the Coupe de France. After a success against Lannion (7-1), Toulouse successively eliminated Ajaccio then Reims, two Ligue 1 clubs. Philippe Montanier’s men made short work of Rodez in the quarter-finals (6-1) before traveling to Annecy for a place in the final. Fallers of OM, Laurent Guyot’s men lost 2-1 and saw Toulouse reach the final of the competition.
In the final, Toulouse challenges Nantes, defending champion. Philippe Montanier’s men started the match with a bang and scored four goals in the first half hour. Nantes reduced the gap with a quarter of an hour to go, but Aboukhlal made it 5-1. Finalist with Rennes in 2014, Philippe Montanier won the Coupe de France nine years later with Toulouse.
Despite this trophy and a pleasant offensive style of play, Toulouse parted ways with the former Lensois coach in mid-June. Former ASSE sporting director, Damien Comolli, officially explains that the club underperformed compared to data forecasts.
For many, the TFC decided to thank Philippe Montanier following an unwillingness to commit long term to the Pink City. The Toulouse coach also did not have good relations with the head of sports strategy and Comolli’s partner, Selinay Gurgenc.
Now named as Eirik Horneland’s replacement on the ASSE bench, Philippe Montanier will be responsible for bringing the club back in six months, 26 years after the end of his playing career in Forez
