The world of football is still in shock at the announcement of the death of Jean-Louis Gasset. The one who was still on the bench for OM 18 months ago and for Montpellier last season began his final journey this Friday morning, at the age of 72. A key figure in the MHSC, where he was the midfielder for a decade (1975-1985), he then became a coach, particularly for his favorite club. It is no coincidence that it was La Paillade who first informed the general public of the terrible news. His father, Bernard Gasset, was even one of the creators of the club with Louis Nicollin. Born in the Hérault prefecture, the man with the cap embodied Montpellier. “The MHSC learned today with immense sadness of the disappearance of Jean-Louis Gasset. Son of Bernard Gasset, one of the founding members of the Pailladin club alongside President Louis Nicollin, Jean-Louis was successively a player, educator then coach of the first team three times, the last from October 2024 to April 2025. A child of the club, he left his mark on all those who came across him with his professionalism, his kindness and his thirst for transmission. He was also a formidable standard of the Montpellier team which he exported to major clubs, whether to Paris-Saint-Germain, Espanyol Barcelona, AS Saint-Étienne or even to Olympique de Marseille and the French team where he was assistant to the coach, Laurent Blanc. Today, the Montpellier club has lost one of its emblematic figures. Our sadness is immense when we remember his smile, his inimitable voice and his keen sense of expression. President Laurent Nicollin and the entire club would like to send their most sincere condolences to the family of Jean-Louis Gasset, in particular to his son Robin, current assistant to Zoumana Camara at the head of the club’s first team, his daughter Coralie, his mother Eliane and the entire Gasset family», Communicated the Hérault club at 1:48 p.m.
Number one or deputy, wherever he went, the technician left excellent memories, in addition to having obtained results almost everywhere. Despite the antagonism of the clubs in which he played, he is one of those who brings people together. In Bordeaux, in the French team and at PSG with Laurent Blanc, in Saint-Etienne and more recently in Marseille, the respectful Gasset is unanimous. The tributes are unanimous. His good nature, his hoarse and warm voice recognizable among thousands, his kindness, but also his discreet anger make him a member apart in the world of French football. “He was the man with the cap, a wise man with a sincere smile, a respected professional, a man listened to. He was more than a coach who made us win. Jean-Louis Gasset has left us. The Green People are in mourning», Reacts AS Saint-Étienne, of which he was a successful coach, saving the Greens from relegation to raise them to European places. OM also published a moving message. “Olympique de Marseille learned with immense sadness of the death of Jean-Louis Gasset. The club is now losing much more than a coach: it is losing a respected football man, an experienced technician, and a figure deeply attached to the human values of this sport. In Marseille, he was able to bring his calm, his sense of balance and his wise outlook. Appreciated by players and managers alike, he left behind the image of a fair man, attentive, deeply respected in the locker room and outside. Olympique de Marseille sends its most sincere condolences to his family, his loved ones, as well as to all those who had the chance to work alongside him. Jean-Louis Gasset will forever remain in the memory of French football and in the history of OM.»
The sadness of Luis Fernandez
There were of course these stints at PSG, first as assistant to Luis Fernandez (2001-2003), then to Laurent Blanc ten years later (2013-2016). “The native of Montpellier joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2001 and Luis Fernandez as assistant for two seasons, before following the former midfielder and coach of the Rouge et Bleu in Spain at Espanyol Barcelona. It was during his second visit to Paris ten years later that Jean-Louis Gasset achieved glory and won numerous titles, in a duo with Laurent Blanc. Three successful seasons from 2013 to 2016, with a treble in the first season (Championship-League Cup-Champions Trophy) and two historic quadruples, with the Coupe de France as a bonus. Appreciated by the players he met in Paris, Jean-Louis Gasset left only good memories during his two visits to the capital, and always remained attached to Paris Saint-Germain when he returned to the Parc des Princes, with Montpellier, Saint-Étienne or even Bordeaux. Returning to Montpellier in 2024, he was unable to prevent the relegation of a club created by his father Bernard, faithful companion of Louis Nicollin in the early 1970s. All thoughts of Paris Saint-Germain are with his family and those close to him»Wrote PSG on its site, while Luis Fernandez also commented on the news in the columns of Parisian. “I feel a deep sadness… We shared so many moments with Jean-Louis, he was an excellent assistant, he helped me a lot. Many images rise to the surface. It’s sad. (…) When we spend so much time together, so intensely, we love each other. Jean-Louis was my friend, we really made a good team. Afterwards, he decided to join Laurent Blanc. It was also the Montpellier connection.»
Less known and older, Gasset sat on the bench of Caen, then in Ligue 2, at the start of the 2000s.It is with sadness that SM Caen learned this Friday of the disappearance of Jean-Louis Gasset. A true character in French football, he was the coach of the “rouge et bleu” during the 2000-2001 season. SM Caen sends all its support to his family and loved ones», Writes the Norman club. All the teams in France pay tribute to the Montpellier player, even those from whom he was further away, like OL. “Olympique Lyonnais presents its sincere condolences to the loved ones and family of Jean-Louis Gasset“. Lille also went with its message. “LOSC learned with great sadness of the disappearance of Jean-Louis Gasset. The Club and its president Olivier Létang want to pay tribute to this emblematic figure of French football as much as to the man of values and friend of the Club that he was. LOSC sends its sincere condolences to the MHSC as well as to the family of Jean-Louis Gasset.» Le Havre, Metz, Nice, Monaco and even Stade Rennais took turns sending a message of condolences. “Player then coach, illustrious figure of French football, Jean-Louis Gasset died at the age of 72. The SRFC would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Jean-Louis as well as to his former players», communicates the Brazilian team.
Benatia and the Marseillais marked by the announcement
Jean-Louis Gasset may have retired from the sidelines, but he did not stay far from football. Since the start of the school year, he has worked as a consultant for League 1+the LFP channel which broadcasts championship matches. He could regularly be seen commenting on matches and delivering his analyzes from the sidelines. The technician always paid attention to the players who came to the microphone to ask about their health. “We have just learned of the sudden death of our consultant, Jean-Louis Gasset, at the age of 72. The entire Ligue 1+ team sends its condolences to his daughter Coralie, as well as to her family and loved ones», assures the broadcaster, inevitably marked by the news. People were always at the center of the coach’s concerns. Players or managers, they were all marked by Gasset’s personality. “My dear Jean-Louis, I will never forget your availability, that day when I asked you and you took your car without hesitation to respond to my requestsends Medhi Benatia, testifying to the coach’s arrival in Marseille to play duty firefighters at the start of 2024. Only a man on the ground, passionate and committed as you have always been, could react like this. I will be eternally grateful to you. We are losing a figure in French football, all my thoughts are with your family at these painful times. Rest in peace Mr Gasset.»
The memories of this period are still fresh. Some players are even still at the club, like Leonardo Balerdi. “Very painful to receive this news. A great coach is leaving, but above all a great person, with a huge heart, who always had the right words. All my thoughts are with his family, rest in peace» comments the Marseille captain on social networks. Amine Harit, now with Istanbul Basaksehir, has not forgotten his period under the coach. It is particularly marked. “Today, words are weak in the face of the pain I feel. You were one of those rare people that we meet in football, but who make an impact well beyond the field. I had the chance to know you, to learn alongside you, to share simple but precious moments. Your passion, your humanity, your smile and your kindness will remain engraved in my memory. Football loses a great professional, but above all I lose a beautiful person who I appreciated enormously. Rest in peace. You will continue to live in our memories, in every match, in every locker room, in every moment where we talk about respect, work and love of the game.» Kylian Mbappé also had a word, he who never evolved under his orders. “A football encyclopedia has left us. Thank you for everything and rest in peace. My condolences to his loved ones.» The final word goes to the French Football Federation, of which Gasset was an employee when he was Laurent Blanc’s assistant with the Blues between 2010 and 2012.
The FFF recalled his personal journey, his various stints in Montpellier (3 in total as coach), his particular family history with the MHSC before discussing his time with the national team. “His death also mourns the French team, which he joined from July 2010 to June 2012, as assistant to national coach Laurent Blanc, with a qualification for Euro 2012, where the Blues reached the quarter-finals.», Develops the press release before concluding with a personal message sent by Philippe Diallo, the president of the federation. “French football today loses one of its great servants. Jean-Louis left his mark on entire generations. Beyond the recognized and respected technician, he was a true lover of football, deeply human, inspiring and committed, who over the decades knew how to transmit his values and his passion for the game to all those who had the privilege of knowing him. If his memory will remain forever linked to Montpellier, his favorite club, as a player and then as a coach, he also contributed, alongside Laurent Blanc as coach, to putting the French team back on the road to its greatest successes. On this very sad day for French football, the FFF presents its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.»
