FC Nantes' off -season takes a decisive turn with the appointment of its new coach. After several weeks of suspense, the Canaries club formalized, in a statement this Friday, the identity of the technician who will lead the first team during the next financial year. A daring choice, which is part of the desire to reinvent a collective in search of stability and results.
Luis Castro, a bet on the Portuguese audacity
Luis Castro, a 45 -year -old Portuguese coach, takes the reins of FC Nantes. Passed by the training at Vitoria Guimaraes and Al-Nassr, he especially distinguished himself in Benfica, where he led the U19 to a historic hat-trick (championship, Youth League, intercontinental cup) in 2022, advocating resolutely offensive football. Revealed in France by his excellent work in Dunkirk, Castro saved the club there in Ligue 2 and then took it to the French Cup semi-finals against PSG and very close to the Play-Offs for the climb.
The task that awaits Luis Castro at La Jonelière promises to be full -bodied. For several seasons, FC Nantes has only been fighting for its survival in Ligue 1, still ending 13th last year and only saving itself on the last day. Giving ambition to a club eight times champion of France, which has only played the euro once in the last 21 seasons, will be anything but a sinecure. His mission: bringing Nantes into the first part of the table and instill a new dynamic.
Nantes, reception land for Portuguese technicians
Castro is not the first Lusitanian to settle on the Nantes bench. If Sergio Conceiçao remains a reference, adored for his spectacular season in 2017, Miguel Cardoso, he had completely missed his passage (only 8 matches). In Castro to avoid the pitfalls of his less lucky compatriots and to be inspired by past successes to mark his imprint the yellow and green house.
Doubed for its human qualities, its ability to integrate young people and its offensive play style, Luis Castro has signed up until 2027, with an optional year as an option. The Jonelière and the Beaujoire are preparing to live a new era under its leadership. But to see Nantes shine again, it will be necessary to combine patience, ambition and success, in a championship where nothing is ever acquired.
