Khaberni - On Thursday, the French club Nantes announced the appointment of Moroccan Ahmed Kntari as the head coach of the first football team, replacing Portuguese Luis Castro, who was dismissed due to poor performance.
The French club said in an official statement, "Nantes club extends its sincere thanks to Luis Castro and his coaching staff for their professionalism and daily dedication, and wishes them all the best in the future."
It added, "Ahmed Kntari will replace Luis Castro, having served as an assistant to Antoine Kombouaré at Nantes from January to May 2025, and is well-acquainted with the club and part of the first team lineup."
It continued, "This will be a valuable asset in quickly finding the keys for a strong Nantes comeback, starting from Friday evening with their away match against Angers."
Kntari (40 years old) was a defender in the Moroccan national team and played for the Valenciennes team.
Kntari, who holds French nationality, turned to coaching after retiring, having previously worked as an assistant to Antoine Kombouaré last season with Nantes.
Nantes, which includes Egyptian Mustafa Mohamed and Moroccan Youssef El Arabi, faced a series of negative results this season, achieving only two wins, five draws, and eight losses in 15 matches under the leadership of Luis Castro (45 years old).
Nantes is currently seventeenth and second-last with 11 points, tied on goal difference with last-place Metz, marking the second worst record in the club's recent history after the 2011 season led by Reynald Denoueix (10 points after 15 rounds).
The defeat against Lens was the fifth in eight matches at La Beaujoire this season, and the Canaries have only managed one win in the last 12 matches, with a score of two goals to one away against Paris FC on October 24th last month.
