Antoine Kombouaré: "I've brought a specific way of working"
With a win and two draws against a trio of European opponents to start his spell at Paris FC, Antoine Kombouaré has the capital side looking up. Hear more from the veteran manager and read the full article at l'Équipe.
"I felt a desire to be part of this adventure"
Did you follow the club before your arrival—and specifically since its acquisition by the Arnault family?
I always follow Ligue 1, and I had already crossed paths—particularly at the Parc des Princes—with the people who are currently leading this project. I felt a desire to be part of this adventure. As for what comes next, I’ll see how things unfold; I’m not making any grand, long-term plans."
And how did your arrival unfold?
The shareholder (Antoine Arnault) and Marco Neppe, the sporting director, were the first to contact me. Things moved quite quickly after that, because I could see how eager they were for me to join. They sounded me out following the defeat against Lens (0–5) to see if I was ready to take on the challenge. I was light-years away from all of that—just taking it easy in Brittany.
Normally, shouldn't you have been unavailable?
That’s correct. I was scheduled to undergo surgery on my left knee on January 20th. But I experienced complications with my right knee, which I had operated on in December. I ended up having to wait, and that’s when the offer from Paris FC came in.
🆕📈 Une nouvelle dynamique pour le club de la capitale depuis l'arrivée d’Antoine Kombouaré ! pic.twitter.com/SMyK0CHPnM
— Ligue 1 McDonald's (@Ligue1) March 15, 2026
What appealed to you?
A great many things appealed to me. First, the desire to get back to work—I felt ready. I had been away from Nantes for nearly eight months, so the timing was right. PFC represents a genuine challenge: it’s a young, dynamic club on the rise to Ligue 1, backed by significant resources. Furthermore, I kept hearing people say that this type of project wasn't for me. I enjoy proving people wrong.
You have a reputation for not giving young players a chance...
At Nantes, I gave opportunities to Quentin Merlin, Nathan Zézé, Herba Guirassy, and Dehmaine Tabibou, among others. At Guingamp, there were Marcus Thuram and Ludovic Blas. But people tend to forget all that. I actually began my coaching career working in the PSG youth academy for four years. I genuinely enjoy working with young players—guiding them, nurturing their development, and helping them grow. Here, in a region with such immense potential, Paris FC’s clear objective is to compete directly with PSG in that very area.
Are you satisfied with your start—four points from two matches (1–0 against Nice and 1–1 at Lyon)?
It is always better to start this way, but we must remain very vigilant. We aren't getting carried away. I am happy for the players, the staff, and the work we’ve put in, but I also know that it is all so fragile.
Do you have a contract extension in place in the event the team avoids relegation?
Yes, but it will be based on mutual instinct. The shareholders—with whom I share a relationship of mutual respect and esteem—and I agreed that we would take stock of the situation at the end of the season. If they feel that a different approach is needed, there are no hard feelings whatsoever. I, too, could simply say "thank you" and "goodbye." I want to work, to enjoy myself, and to keep coaching. I want to feel that I have people's confidence. If that is no longer the case, I certainly won't hold it against them.
Without leaving on bad terms?
No, never. You might get upset—just like in a family. We might disagree on professional matters, but we always make up in the end. If I do leave, I’ll simply say, "Thank you for giving me the job," and then, "Alright, best of luck to you." I won't dwell on my past career, but I was once fired from PSG while we were sitting in first place. You shouldn't try to make sense of it, because if you do, you’ll drive yourself crazy. So, you just tell yourself: "That’s just the nature of this business." I take my pay, I do my job, and once it’s over, I shake hands and—above all—I look forward.
