Former Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodžić set to take over as Nantes head coach

Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodžić is set to take over as head coach of French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes, four years after leaving his role as Morocco head coach.

The coaching spell of Ahmed Kantari at FC Nantes came to an abrupt end far earlier than many observers anticipated.

Following a damaging home defeat to Angers SCO that left the team languishing in 17th place, Kantari’s exit became increasingly inevitable.

His tenure lasted only three months, a period that ultimately confirmed the team’s struggles both in attack and defense.

The statistics during that short stint were so disappointing that they made the notoriously difficult spell of Raymond Domenech at the club appear less severe by comparison.

Many initially expected Nantes to turn to familiar managerial names such as Antoine Kombouaré or perhaps promote a figure from within the club’s structure. Instead, club officials surprised many by appointing veteran Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodžić.

Now 73 years old, Halilhodžić returns to the sidelines for the first time since parting ways with the Morocco national football team in 2022. His appointment marks a dramatic comeback to a club with which he shares deep personal history.

Nicknamed “The General,” Halilhodžić is far from a stranger at Nantes. He enjoyed legendary status as a player for the club during the 1980s and previously stepped in to rescue the team during a difficult period in 2018. That history makes his return a logical choice for some, even if the circumstances surrounding the appointment carry considerable risk.

One of the most notable elements of this comeback is the apparent reconciliation between Halilhodžić and the club’s leadership despite past tensions. His relationship with club officials had previously been strained, particularly amid disagreements over recruitment decisions and financial limitations.

At one point, Halilhodžić openly criticised interference in player recruitment, famously declaring: “I am the one who decides who is a good player.”

For now, however, it appears that the urgency of Nantes’ situation and the looming threat of relegation have pushed both sides toward a temporary truce. Pride has seemingly been set aside in a joint effort to rescue the club’s season and avoid a humiliating drop from France’s top flight.