EA Guingamp have brought in Antoine Kombouaré as head coach following the departure of Jocelyn Gourvennec, who moved on to take the reins at Bordeaux after six years with the Brittany outfit.

After a season during which no fewer than 12 coaches lost heir jobs, the merry-go-round has continued early in the off-season, with Guingamp bringing in former Valenciennes, Paris Saint-Germain and RC Lens boss Antoine Kombouaré – to be presented to the press on Wednesday – on a three-year deal to replace the outgoing Jocelyn Gourvennec.

Gourvennec joined Guingamp in May of 2010 and quickly had the club on the up-and-up, securing promotion from the National (D3) to Ligue 1 in the spaced of three seasons and taking the side to a tenth-placed top-flight finish in 2014-15 as well as claiming Coupe de France glory against Brittany rivals that same season.

‘Extremely happy’

The former Rennes, Nantes and Marseille player will now take over from interim boss Ulrich Ramé at Bordeaux, where he feels he has been handed a huge opportunity.

“I’m extremely happy with the faith that has been shown in me by Girondins de Bordeaux,” said Gourvennec, who faced some stiff competition for the job from outgoing Nice coach Claude Puel. “It’s an honour to have been chosen – Bordeaux are one of the biggest clubs in France and it’s a no-brainer to accept such a challenge. I’m feeling a mixture of pride and ambition, as the season ahead is shaping up as a very exciting one.” 

So what objectives have been set for the man who took Guingamp to the Europa League round of 32?

“Bordeaux are coming out of a season that was below their expectations,” explained the 44-year-old. “We’ll need to establish a healthy dynamic in the team, the squad and the club. And become more consistent. Bordeaux should be fighting it out for the top spots. We won’t talk of Europe yet. We just need to find our feet and mix it with the big boys. Then we’ll see.”

‘A lot of great moments’

And while he is excited by his new adventure, Gourvennec won’t be forgetting Guingamp any time soon.

“The average Ligue 1 coach stays in his job for 15 months. I had six years with Guingamp, and that’s huge,” he said. “I had a lot of great moments that count for a lot in your professional life. But it was my choice to move on, and I will drop by to say goodbye to all the people who are dear to me at the club. But from now on, I will be 300 per cent behind Les Girondins.”

 

>> CLUB PROFILE: EA Guingamp

>> CLUB PROFILE: FC Girondins de Bordeaux


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