Ligue 1 – Antoine Kombouaré Keeps Door Ajar on Potential Return to FC Nantes
Could Antoine Kombouaré make a return to FC Nantes? While currently in charge of RC Lens, the former Nantes player and coach was careful not to fully close the door on a potential comeback to his old club.
Speaking recently to Luis Fernandez, as relayed by butfootballclub.fr, Kombouaré remained deliberately vague when asked about the growing speculation:
“For those who know how I operate, there are no calculations. I don’t have a career plan—you can see that through my playing career. For now, I’m at Lens. And Michel [Der Zakarian] is doing a very good job.”
At the moment, RC Lens finds itself struggling near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, fighting to stay in the top flight. Meanwhile, FC Nantes is performing well under Der Zakarian, sitting 5th in the league and showing strong form.
While the current context makes a move unlikely, Kombouaré’s ties to the Canaries—as a former player and respected figure—ensure that rumors of a reunion will continue to swirl. Still, as he made clear, his immediate priority is Lens’ survival, not future planning.
For now, the story remains one of “never say never”, but no imminent change appears on the horizon.
