Nantes announced on Tuesday that it has parted ways with head coach Antoine Comboire, whose contract expires next summer.

Antoine Comboire was born in Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, in 1963. He played for Nantes for seven seasons as a player. He started his coaching career in 1999 and has served as head coach of Paris Saint-Germain B, Strasbourg, Valenciennes Paris Saint-Germain, Riyadh Crescent, Lens, Guingamp, Dijon and Toulouse.

From February 2021 to May 2023, Comboire led the team to 42 wins, 28 draws and 39 losses during his first term in Nantes, and won a French Cup. In March 2024, he took over the coaching position again when Nantes was in trouble, and then achieved the goal of relegation for two consecutive seasons.

"I want to thank Antoine for his commitment over the past 14 months," said Nantes president Waldemar Kitta. "I think few people outside the club really understand the pace, pressure and physical and mental exhaustion that a coach has to endure. Despite the difficult economic situation, Antoine has managed to keep the team in Ligue 1 for two consecutive seasons."

He concluded: “This is the end of a phase and the beginning of a new one. The blueprint for the future is clear: we will regroup, promote beautiful football and continue to believe in the youth training system.”

Comboire's successor has not yet been decided. Nantes is expected to examine a number of potential candidates in the coming weeks, including Comboire's assistant Ahmed Kantari. The 39-year-old Kantari coached Valenciennes for about a year and has been Nantes' assistant since January this year. According to French media reports, he is ready to take over as the first team coach.