Olivier Pantaloni announced on Wednesday that he will step down as Lorient's manager at the end of the season. He also made it clear to Ouest-France that he had rejected Lorient's contract extension offer.

The 59-year-old Pantaloni previously managed Ajaccio and Tours in 581 matches before succeeding Regis Lebrs as Lorient's manager in July 2024. In his first season in charge, he led the team to the Ligue 2 title, and upon their return to Ligue 1, they accumulated 12 wins, 11 draws, and 9 losses. Currently, Lorient sits ninth in Ligue 1 with a record of 9 wins, 11 draws, and 8 losses, accumulating 38 points.

Despite his commendable coaching performance, Pantaloni has no intention of extending his contract, which is set to expire this summer. In an interview with Ouest-France, he revealed the inside story of the falling out, pointing the finger at the Lorient leadership's dismissive attitude: "Since I took office, the management has consistently lacked trust in me."

Pantaloni further revealed that after leading the team back to Ligue 1 last year, he proactively sought a contract extension, but Lorient's management repeatedly postponed negotiations citing reasons such as "broadcasting rights issues," "DNCG review," and "club ownership change." In February of this year, Lorient, under Pantaloni's leadership, achieved a 12-game unbeaten run and secured their Ligue 1 survival early. However, the club then included a clause in Pantaloni's contract extension proposal allowing him to unilaterally terminate the contract, which Pantaloni found deeply humiliating.

By early April, a new round of negotiations had begun. However, Lorient's management not only insisted on retaining the clause during the negotiations but also issued Pantaloni an ultimatum of less than 24 hours. Faced with pressure from the club, Pantaloni ultimately and decisively refused to renew his contract: "To be honest, it's very difficult for me to go back. Last May, I told them I was disappointed, that I sensed their doubts and lack of trust in me. Their insistence on retaining that clause further demonstrated their distrust of me. Although they knew perfectly well that this was my bottom line for staying."

"I am extremely disappointed. I had two wonderful years at Lorient. I believe I built a good relationship with everyone at the club. It's regrettable that things have come to this. One thing is certain: I am not a mercenary opportunist. I have no regrets. The reason I was able to stay at a club like Ajaccio with limited resources for 14 years was because the management around me had given me their full trust. During my two years at Lorient, I did my best to show my true self and abilities. However, I could still sense the management's skepticism. That's why I refused to continue working in this environment."

Pantaloni concluded by saying, "With only six league games left, I hope everyone can focus on the game itself. I am determined to give my all and finish the season in unstoppable form. Although I don't know if I can achieve that, I will never give up."

Image source: Internet/Lorient official website