No manager can succeed – Sabri Lamouchi breaks silence after Tunisia sacking

Former Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi has broken his silence after being show the exit door during the 2026 World Cup tournament in North America.

Lamouchi was sacked after succumbing to a humiliating defeat in their opening game at the tournament, with Herve Renard taking charges in the remaining two group games.

Speaking on the Kampo podcast, Lamouchi reflected on the difficult moments that followed Tunisia’s heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden during the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to Lamouchi, the aftermath of the defeat was marked by uncertainty, with the former midfielder claiming that he only became aware of his sacking after waking up to a series of messages and missed calls from family members and friends.

The former Côte d’Ivoire and Rennes coach said he was surprised to discover that the TFF had already released an official statement announcing his departure before he had been personally informed by the federation’s leadership.

“I woke up early and saw 27 missed calls from my family and friends. Apparently, there had been an official statement from the TFF announcing my departure. That was the beginning of the end,” Lamouchi said.

The 53-year-old explained that despite the difficult situation, he still reported for training and attempted to maintain professionalism with the squad. He revealed that several players offered their support and encouraged him to continue fighting through the challenging period.

“I went to training. Some players came up to me and said we’d see it through together. No manager can succeed under such circumstances.”

Lamouchi’s comments suggest that communication between himself and the federation had broken down following the disappointing World Cup result. The heavy defeat against Sweden reportedly increased pressure on the coach, eventually leading to his removal from the position.

The Frenchman had taken charge of Tunisia with the responsibility of guiding the national team through a major international campaign, but the disappointing result against Sweden proved decisive as the federation opted for a change in leadership.

Despite his departure, Lamouchi expressed appreciation for the support he received from members of the squad, highlighting the backing from players during a difficult period.

The former midfielder, who previously managed teams in France, England, Qatar and Africa, now leaves Tunisia after a short spell in charge, with the federation moving quickly to find a replacement ahead of future commitments.

His revelations have sparked further discussion about the relationship between national team coaches and football authorities, particularly regarding communication, decision-making and the treatment of coaches during major tournaments.