Waldemar Kita, president and owner of FC Nantes since 2007, delivered a candid and self-critical assessment of his club’s precarious position in an explosive interview with Eurosport on Friday, April 24, 2026. The French Ligue 1 club currently sits in 19th place with just five points separating them from safety with four matches remaining, prompting Kita to acknowledge personal responsibility for the team’s potential descent into Ligue 2.
“On va descendre parce que j’ai tout laissé faire,” Kita declared during the interview, translating to “We are going down because I let everything slide.” The stark admission came as Nantes prepares for a difficult run-in that includes away matches at Rennes and Lens, plus home fixtures against Marseille and Toulouse.
The 72-year-old Polish businessman, who made his fortune in ophthalmic devices before purchasing Nantes in 2007 for approximately €10 million, has overseen a tumultuous period marked by frequent managerial changes. Kita confirmed he has gone through 23 different coaches since taking control of the club, including the recent dismissal of Luis Castro in December 2025 after less than six months in charge.
Kita was particularly critical of his decision to appoint Castro, whom he described as lacking the necessary experience for Ligue 1 management. “Ce coach va faire descendre deux clubs dans la même année. Je n’aurais pas dû prendre cet entraîneur sans expérience,” Kita stated, referencing Castro’s current 19th-place position with Spanish Segunda División side Levante.
The Nantes president revealed he had doubts about Castro from the beginning, claiming he had advocated for the coach’s dismissal even during pre-season preparations. “Après les matchs amicaux, je disais qu’il fallait le dégager,” Kita explained, using French terminology meaning “to get rid of.”
Despite his reputation as an interventionist owner, Kita sought to distance himself from direct control of sporting decisions during the interview. “Ce n’est pas moi qui gère le sportif, que ce soit clair,” he insisted, maintaining that he does not manage the team’s on-field affairs.
But, he conceded that greater involvement might have altered the club’s trajectory this season. “Si j’étais intervenu un peu plus cette saison, je pense qu’on n’en serait pas là… Aujourd’hui, on va descendre parce que j’ai tout laissé faire,” Kita admitted, suggesting his hands-off approach contributed to the current crisis.
The comparison to Bordeaux, which Kita invoked when stating Nantes risks finishing “comme Bordeaux,” carries particular resonance in French football. Bordeaux were relegated from Ligue 1 at the conclude of the 2021-22 season after experiencing financial difficulties and ownership instability, serving as a cautionary tale for clubs facing similar challenges.
Kita defended his overall stewardship of the club despite the relegation threat, emphasizing his commitment to Nantes’ employees. “Mon héritage? Je n’ai pas laissé Nantes dans la merde. Ça, c’est un héritage et je le dois à une bonne gestion. Il y a quand même 250 salariés, je n’en ai pas laissé un dans la merde. Au moins, j’aimerais qu’on dise : ‘il tient le club.’ Oui, je tiens le club. Comme je le peux, avec mes moyens, mais je le tiens,” he asserted.
The Nantes president acknowledged the growing discontent among supporters, referencing chants from the Brigade Loire ultras group calling for his departure. “Casse-toi Waldemar, prends ton fils avec toi” (“Get out Waldemar, take your son with you”) has turn into a regular refrain at matches, referring to Kita’s son Franck, who serves as deputy general manager at the club.
While expressing frustration with critics who accuse him of excessive involvement in sporting matters, Kita maintained his innocence regarding the club’s sporting decline. “Certains auraient fui depuis longtemps en disant : Allez vous faire foutre” (“Some would have fled long ago saying: Travel fuck yourself”), he remarked, suggesting his persistence stems from dedication rather than obstinacy.
As Nantes prepares for their next Ligue 1 fixture, the club faces an uphill battle to avoid what would be only the second relegation in their professional history. Their previous drop to the second tier occurred in 2007, the same year Kita acquired the club, before an immediate return to Ligue 1 the following season.
The coming weeks will determine whether Kita’s admission of responsibility translates into action that can salvage Nantes’ top-flight status, or if the club will indeed suffer the fate he predicted by letting “everything slide.”
FC Nantes’ final four matches of the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season will ultimately decide their fate, with survival requiring results that currently appear unlikely given their five-point deficit and challenging schedule.
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