Montpellier football team

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    Football club president sacks manager on live TV in astonishing post-game interview before blaming PLAYERS for decision

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    THIS is the shocking moment a top football club president sacked his manager LIVE on TV after seeing his side lose 5-0.The chief of Ligue 1 side Montpellier shocked viewers by publicly announcing that Michel Der Zakarian had been given the boot.Montpellier president publicly announced the club’s decision to sack the managerBoss Michel Der Zakarian was axed after a disastrous run of formLaurent Nicollin blamed the PLAYERS in his astonishing post-game interview after Sunday’s 5-0 pummelling against Marseille.Montpellier are languishing at rock bottom of the French top flight.The French side have lot six of their opening eight matches, taking just four points so far this term.And the club have conceded a staggering 26 goals since the opening day of the season.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSMontpellier’s latest nightmare struck on Sunday as Marseille ran riot to move three points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.But the biggest fireworks went off after full-time at Stade de la Mosson as club president Nicollin SACKED the club’s manager on live TV.Nicollin, 51, told DAZN France: “We can’t change 25 players, so, unfortunately, I’ve taken the initiative to stop Michel tonight.”We talked in the locker room after the game. I told him it was over tonight.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”And I said to the players that, thanks to their great job, they had fired the coach and that they need to take their responsibilities next week against Toulouse.”Der Zakarian’s public departure brings an end to the Armenian’s second spell in charge of Montpellier, whom he initially took charge of for four years between 2017 and 2021 before leaving for Brest.Mason Greenwood SIGNS for Marseille as Man Utd release brief statement after transferElye Wahi’s first-minute strike set the tone before Amine Harit and ex-Spurs loanee Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made it three before half-time.And former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood rounded off a stunning counter attack to make it 4-0 in the 58th minute.Greenwood ended his four game streak without a goal to leave a timely reminder to new England boss Thomas Tuchel.Luis Henrique concluded the scoring, adding a fifth in the 73rd minute, which spelt doom in bold for Der Zakarian.The 61-year-old – who also represented Montpellier as a player from 1988 to 1997 – becomes the first manager to lose his job in Ligue 1 this term. More

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      My dad was a Premier League free-kick king, now I’m making my own way in football

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      THOMAS ROBERT must feel pressure every time Wasquehal are awarded a free-kick.But that comes with the territory of being the son of one of the Premier League’s greatest set-piece kings, the Newcastle legend Laurent Robert.
      Thomas Robert is the son of former France international LaurentCredit: Instagram / thomasrobert_99
      He spent the 2020-21 season with AirdrieoniansCredit: The Sun
      Robert spent five years at St James’ Park, scoring ten Premier League free-kicksCredit: PA
      The rising star, 23, joined the French fourth-tier side last year after previously earning his stripes in the Scottish League One with Airdrieonians in 2020-21.
      While with the Scottish side, Robert Jr underwent trials with Celtic, Rangers, Burnley and Salford City.
      But he ended up going to Belgium with Mouscron before returning to France where he turned out for the UNFP French footballers’ union team as he searched for his next club.
      The pink-haired pacey winger then had a stint with Beziers before signing for Wasquehal in the Nations 2 Group D in October 2023 where he is under contract until the end of the season.
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      Thomas – who also personalises and sells luxury cars aside from football – started out at Montpellier, though, just like his famous father.
      In fact, the youngster is the third generation footballer after his grandfather, Laurent’s dad, played local in Saint-Benoit, Reunion where he forged a reputation as a superb free-kick taker.
      Laurent – whose brother Bertrand is also a pro – told Foot Davant in 2018: “Football is a family affair. My father played football in Saint-Benoit, my hometown which is located in the east of the island. 
      “He was one of the greatest attackers in Reunion. I followed in his footsteps even though I also practised other sports such as handball, tennis, judo, table tennis and athletics.
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      “It’s innate. My father had the same ball striking on both feet. When I was playing as a beginner, I was already hitting from midfield. I scored without any problem.”
      Laurent Robert spent five years at Montpellier – scoring his first professional goal in trademark fashion with a free-kick.
      David Beckham teases comeback aged 48 as Man Utd legend leaves fans stunned with still-flawless free-kick ability
      In 1999, he joined Paris Saint-Germain and also made the first of his nine France international caps. 
      But despite impressing – especially from dead-ball situations – and leading the Ligue 1 scoring charts midway through the 2000-01 season, a change of manager stalled his form and the club’s title charge.
      And that summer he made his £10million switch to Newcastle, making an immediate impact under Bobby Robson.
      Across his five years at St James’ Park, he managed a staggering ten direct free-kicks in 129 games and added another when shipped out on loan to Portsmouth under a cloud in 2005-06.
      His tally of 11 places him sixth in the all-time Premier League list for free-kick goalscorers behind David Beckham, James Ward-Prowse, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gianfranco Zola – and top of the minutes-per-free-kick ratio of anyone with at least eight strikes.
      Top Premier League free-kick goalscorers
      1. David Beckham – 18
      2. James Ward-Prowse – 17
      3=. Thierry Henry – 12
      3=. Cristiano Ronaldo – 12
      3=. Gianfranco Zola – 12
      6=. Laurent Robert – 11
      6=. Seb Larsson – 11
      8=. Ian Harte – 10
      8=. Morten Gamst Pedersen – 10

      And some of his net-busters were so iconic they were used in the legendary Goal football films. 
      Robert, now 48, made his loan to Pompey permanent in 2005 but just six months later he left for Benfica.
      Again, he lasted only half a season and went to Levante before officially retiring in 2010 after spells with Derby, Toronto and Larissa in Greece. 
      His solitary piece of silverware was the 2001 Confederations Cup alongside Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Nicolas Anelka.
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      Robert spent five years working as a coach with Montpellier’s women’s team and academy but left the post in 2020.
      These days, he seems to be enjoying retirement by supporting his family, playing golf, eating good food and drinking even better wine.
      Robert earned legendary status at St James’ ParkCredit: PA:Press Association
      He forged a reputation for his stunning free-kicksCredit: Reuters
      A young Thomas hangs out with his footballer fatherCredit: Instagram / laurentrobertofficiel
      The Premier League cult hero is enjoying his retirement lifeCredit: Instagram / laurentrobertofficiel More

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      Arsenal icon Thierry Henry slammed over ‘nonsense’ criticism of French football as manager questions his coaching skills

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      MONTPELLIER manager Michel Der Zakarian has slammed Thierry Henry for his criticism of Ligue 1. Arsenal legend Henry, labelled the French first division as “boring” last week following a fleet of low scoring games.
      Michel Der Zakarian has hit out at Thierry Henry for his criticism of Ligue 1Credit: Getty
      Henry labelled the French league as “boring”Credit: AFP
      Ligue 1 has seen just 25 goals scored in the last 17 games played in the competition including nine games with no more than one goal.
      While only two teams have managed to score more than 17 goals in the league this season as a whole which is a stark contrast to the ten who achieved the feat in the Premier League.
      Henry blasted the French division for its lack of excitement, but thinks it goes beyond just the ball finding the back of the net.
      He said: “It isn’t even necessarily the lack of goals that are making Ligue 1 boring currently. There is no action, no shots on target.”
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      But his criticism hasn’t been well received by Der Zakarian, whose Montpellier side have scored 15 goals in 12 league games and currently sit in 12th place.
      The Armenian boss lambasted Henry’s thoughts as “nonsense” while taking a swipe at his short managerial stint with Monaco.
      Speaking to Midi Libre, he said: “I don’t agree with Thierry Henry. Where has he managed? What did he do at AS Monaco?
      “The guy works for the FFF and criticises French football. It’s nonsense!
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      “It’s easy to criticise the league when you’re the manager of the France U21 team. He won 4-0 twice but against whom?
      “He hasn’t beaten anyone. If he wins 5-0 against Spain or Italy, I’ll say well done.”
      Henry previously took charge of Monaco for just 20 games before he moved to the MLS to take over as Montreal gaffer.
      But he is now the manager of the France U21 team and has started life out with four wins and one loss in his opening five games.
      Although his youngsters have only come out on top against nations they would be expected to beat including Cyprus, Bosnia and Slovenia.
      Henry is the new manager of the French U21 sideCredit: AFP More

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      Forgotten Liverpool star ‘kicks Montpellier manager & breaks family heirloom in furious bust-up and faces being sacked’

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      FORMER Liverpool star Mamadou Sakho reportedly KICKED Montpellier manager Michel Der Zakarian in a furious training ground bust-up.And it’s claimed he now faces the sack after also allegedly breaking a precious family heirloom belonging to his boss.
      Mamadou Sakho reportedly had a training ground fight with his Montpellier bossCredit: AFP
      Sakho was booted from Liverpool after falling out with Jurgen KloppCredit: Getty
      Sakho, 33, has been at Montpellier since 2021 after leaving Crystal Palace.
      He is best remembered by Premier League fans for a three-year spell at Liverpool, where he played 80 times before falling out with Jurgen Klopp.
      Paris Saint-Germain product Sakho then featured 75 times for Palace before returning to France with Montpellier two years ago.
      But his time with the Ligue 1 outfit could be coming to an end after a reported bust-up with his boss.
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      Major French news outlet L’Equipe claims Sakho stormed out of a training session after manager Der Zakarian failed to award him a foul during a practice game.
      The Montpellier boss then scolded Sakho over his decision to walk off, leading the defender to retort about his lack of minutes this season.
      L’Equipe claims Der Zakarian then said something that made Sakho lose his temper, with the ex-Red allegedly grabbing the manager by his collar and making him fall to the dressing room floor.
      Meanwhile, Ligue 1 insider Mohamed Toubache-Ter claims Der Zakarian called Sakho a “cry baby.”
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      The player is then said, via Get French Football News, to have kicked Der Zakarian to the ground before breaking the manager’s necklace — which was a family heirloom.
      Der Zakarian was apparently left enraged by the encounter.
      But speaking to L’Equipe, he said: “There was nothing. I have nothing to say about it.”
      Montpellier and Sakho have not commented on the reported incident.
      However, L’Equipe adds the French club could now sack Sakho for serious misconduct.
      The player is in the final year of his contract after being offered out for transfer over the summer.
      And the alleged scrap with Der Zakarian looks set to be the final straw. More

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      Ligue 1 clash suspended after goalkeeper is stunned by FIREWORK thrown by fans and has to be stretchered off

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      CLERMONT goalkeeper Mory Diaw had to be stretchered off against Montpellier after being hit by a firework.The Ligue 1 match was suspended by the officials after Diaw was stunned by the object, which had been thrown by the Montpellier fans.
      Mory Diaw was struck in the head by a firework during the match between Montpellier and ClermontCredit: Getty
      Footage from the game shows the firework landing behind the keeper as he prepared to take a goal kick.
      Medical staff quickly rushed onto the pitch to treat Diaw after he went down.
      The Senegalese stopper was then seen being placed onto a stretcher before medics carried him off the pitch.
      It is understood that the fan has since been identified by security staff inside the stadium.
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      Montpellier had been leading 4-2 in stoppage time at the time of the incident, having played over half an hour with 10 men.
      Clermont also had a player sent off in added time during the heated Ligue 1 clash.
      Neto Borges was shown a straight red card for raising a middle finger to the Montpellier fans in response to their antics.
      The match has still yet to resume and it is currently unclear whether play will restart.
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      The match was suspended whilst Diaw received treatment and was stretchered offCredit: AFP
      Diaw signed for Clermont last summer, returning to France after spells in Portugal, Bulgaria and Switzerland.
      The former Paris Saint-Germain star has started each of his side’s league matches so far this season, keeping a clean sheet against his old club last weekend.
      However, he is now set for a spell on the treatment table following Sunday’s shocking scenes at the Stade de la Mosson. More