About Ligue 1's Coaches (Part II)

Discover the coaches in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season, along with their achievements, records, and career journeys.

Carles Martinez Novell

Age: 40

Nationality: Spain

Second season at Toulouse

Best finish in Ligue 1 McDonald's: 11th place in 2023-24

Career path:

FC Barcelona U16 (Spain, 2018-19), Al-Rayyan SC youth (Qatar, 2019-2020), Kuwait U20 (2020-2022), and Toulouse FC (2023-)

Record:

Ligue 1 McDonald's: 34 matches (32% wins)

European competitions: Eight matches (38% wins)

Antoine Kombouaré

Age: 60

Nationality: French

Second stint at FC Nantes (2021-2023; March 2024-)

Best Ligue 1 McDonald's finish: Fourth place in 2010-11

Career:

RC Strasbourg Alsace (2003-2004), Valenciennes FC (2005-2009), PSG (2009-2011), Al-Hilal (2012-2013), RC Lens (2013-2016), EA Guingamp (2016-2018), Dijon FCO (2019), Toulouse FC (2019-2020), FC Nantes (2021-2023; 2024-)

Record:

Ligue 1 McDonald's: 506 matches (30% wins)

Ligue 2 BKT: 114 matches (46% wins)

European Cups: 24 matches (38% wins)

Honors:

Ligue 2 BKT Champion: 2006

Coupe de France: 2010 and 2022

UNFP Ligue 2 BKT Coach of the Year: 2006

Didier Digard

Age: 37

Nationality: French

First season at Le Havre

Best Ligue 1 McDonald's finish: Ninth place in 2022-23 with OGC Nice

Career:

OGC Nice (2023) and Le Havre (2024-)

Record:

Ligue 1: 21 matches (48% wins)

European competitions: Four matches (50% wins)

Christophe Pélissier

Age: 58

Nationality: French

Third season at AJ Auxerre

Best Ligue 1 McDonald's finish: 13th in 2017-18 with Amiens SC

Career:

US Revel (2000-2006), AS Muret (2006/2007), Luzenac (2007-2014), Amiens SC (Dec. 2014-2019), FC Lorient (2019-2022), AJ Auxerre (2022-)

Record:

Ligue 1 McDonald's: 178 matches (26% wins)

Ligue 2 BKT: 104 matches (55% wins)

Honors:

Ligue 2 BKT Champion: 2020, 2024

CFA Champion: 2009

UNFP Ligue 2 BKT Coach of the Year: 2024

Alexandre Dujeux

Age: 48

Nationality: French

Third season at Angers SCO

Best finish in Ligue 1 McDonald's: 20th place in 2022-23 with Angers SCO

Career:

Tours FC (2014-2015) and Angers SCO (2023-)

Record:

Ligue 1 McDonald's: 12 matches (17% wins)

Ligue 2 BKT: 65 matches (45% wins)

Liam Rosenior

Age: 40

Nationality: English

First season in RC Strasbourg

Career:

Derby County (2022), Hull City (2022-2024), RC Strasbourg Alsace (2024-)

Record:

English Championship: 83 matches (37% wins)

Jean-Louis Gasset

Age: 70

Nationality: French

Best finish in Ligue 1 McDonald's: Fourth in 2018-19 with Saint-Étienne

Career:

Montpellier HSC (1998-99), SM Caen (2000-01), FC Istres (2005-06), Montpellier HSC (2017), AS Saint-Étienne (2017-19), Girondins de Bordeaux (2020-21), Côte d'Ivoire (2022-24), Olympique de Marseille (2024), Montpellier HSC (2024-)

Record:

Ligue 1 McDonald's: 174 matches (39% wins)

Ligue 2 BKT: 77 matches (32% wins)

Jorge Sampaoli

Age: 64

Nationality: Argentine

First season at Stade Rennais

Best finish in Ligue 1 McDonald's: 2nd in 2021-22 with OM

Career:

CA Argentino (1997), Club Juan Aurich (2002), Sport Boys (2003), Coronel Bolognesi (2004-05, 2006), Club Sporting Cristal (2007), CD O'Higgins (2008-09), CS Emelec (2010), Club Universidad de Chile (2011-12), Chile (2012-16), Sevilla FC (2016-17), Argentina (2017-18), Santos FC (2018-19), Atlético Mineiro (2020-21), Olympique de Marseille (2021-22), Sevilla FC (2022-23), CR Flamengo (2023), Stade Rennais (2024-)

Record:

Ligue 1 McDonald's: 49 matches (55% wins)

European Cups: 30 matches (47% wins)

Honors:

Copa América: 2015

Copa Sudamericana: 2011

Chile Championship Opening Tournament: 2011, 2012

Chile Championship Closing Tournament: 2011

Ligue 1 McDonald's Runner-up: 2022

Eirik Horneland

First season at AS Saint-Étienne

Age: 49

Nationality: Norwegian

Best finish in Ligue 1 McDonald's: N/A

Career:

Norway (U18, 2014), Norway (U19, 2014-17), Haugesund (2016-19), Rosenborg BK (2019-20), SK Brann (2021-24), AS Saint-Étienne (2024-)

Honors:

Norwegian Champion: 2023, 2024

Norwegian Cup: 2023

Norwegian 2nd Division Champion: 2022

READ MORE:

>>About Ligue 1's Coaches (Part I)

>>The top athletic performances from Ligue 1 McDonald's clubs