Michel Der Zakarian

Playing career

Der Zakarian was born in Yerevan and moved with his family to Marseille in the south of France at an young age. and spent his entire professional career in the country with Nantes and Montpellier, winning the league with the former in 1983. He was a member of the Armenia national team, participating in five international matches after his debut in a home 1998 World Cup qualifying match against Portugal.

Managerial career

Nantes and Clermont

Der Zakarian was assistant to Georges Eo at Nantes, and succeeded him on 12 February 2007 when the team was 19th in Ligue 1; this was their fifth change of the position since winning the league title in 2001. The Canaris were relegated, and he brought them back immediately from Ligue 2 as runners up to Le Havre, but was sacked on 26 August 2008 after gaining one point from the first three games of the season, and was replaced by Christian Larièpe, who became the interim manager.

On 1 June 2009, Der Zakarian succeeded Didier Ollé-Nicolle at Ligue 2 club Clermont. Despite the club having one of the lowest budgets in the league, he led them to respective finishes of 6th, 7th and 5th in his three seasons before returning to Nantes.

In 2012–13, his first season back at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Der Zakarian again won Nantes promotion to Ligue 1, in third place. He kept them in the top flight in each of the following three seasons, though goals were hard to come by; they netted 38, 29 and 33 respectively over the 38-game campaigns. Club owner Waldemar Kita disliked Der Zakarian and his management, but allowed him to see out his contract instead of paying for a dismissal.

Reims and Montpellier

Der Zakarian left Nantes in May 2016 to sign for two years at Reims, newly relegated to Ligue 2. A year later, he was back in the top flight after leaving by mutual accord to join Montpellier.

In April 2019, Der Zakarian signed a new contract to stay at Montpellier until 2021. The club ended that season in 6th, missing out on UEFA Europa League qualification only due to the results of the domestic cup finals.

Der Zakarian announced in May 2021 that he was leaving Montpellier at the end of the season. He won 2–1 against former club Nantes on his final day, securing 8th place.

Brest

On 22 June 2021, Der Zakarian signed with fellow Ligue 1 side Brest. The team did not win any of their first eleven games, followed by six successive victories including over Monaco and Marseille. Having stayed up in his first season, his contract was automatically extended to 2024.

Der Zakarian was fired on 11 October 2022 with the club in last place, having won once in ten games. Results that season included a 7–0 home loss to Montpellier on 28 August.

Return to Montpellier

On 8 February 2023, Der Zakarian returned as manager of Montpellier. On 24 October 2023, he was involved in an altercation with defender Mamadou Sakho, who reportedly grabbed him by the collar before the manager fell to the floor; it is alleged that Sakho was provoked by Der Zakarian calling him a "cry-baby" over a training ground incident.

After having conceded 26 goals in 8 games, ending with a 5–0 defeat to Marseille, Der Zakarian was sacked from last-placed Montpellier on 20 October 2024.

Caen

On 18 February 2025, Der Zakarian signed with Ligue 2 side Caen. He left the club at the end of the season, having been relegated to the Championnat National.

Personal life

Der Zakarian and his wife Véronique married in 1983.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Nantes

• Ligue 1: 1982–83
• Coupe de France runners-up: 1982–83

Montpellier

• Coupe de France: 1989–90; runners-up: 1993–94
• Coupe de la Ligue: 1991–92; runners-up: 1993–94

References

References

1. [https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Der-zakarian-l-enfant-de-marseille/551842 Der Zakarian, l'enfant de Marseille], [Der Zakarian, the child of Marseille], Johan Tabau, [[France Football]], 17 April 2015
2. (13 February 2007). "Un nouveau tandem d'entraîneurs au FC Nantes". [[Le Monde]].
3. (26 August 2008). "FC Nantes : Der Zakarian limogé". [[Le Parisien]].
4. (1 June 2009). "Der Zakarian entraîneur de Clermont Foot". Le Parisien.
5. (1 June 2012). "Michel Der Zakarian quitte le Clermont Foot". [[France 3]].
6. (19 May 2013). "FC Nantes. Les quatre vérités de Michel Der Zakarian". [[Ouest-France]].
7. (23 May 2016). "Stade de Reims : Michel Der Zakarian nommé entraîneur (officiel)". [[L'Équipe]].
8. (22 May 2017). "Football. Michel Der Zakarian à Montpellier, c'est officiel". Ouest-France.
9. (29 April 2019). "Mishel [''sic''] Der Zakarian extends contract with Montpellier HSC". [[News.am]].
10. (21 September 2020). "Michel Der Zakarian and Téji Savanier are making Montpellier marvellous". [[The Guardian]].
11. (3 May 2021). "Michel Der Zakarian quitting Montpellier HSC". News.am.
12. (23 May 2021). "Nantes in relegation play-off, Rennes in Europe". Ligue 1.
13. (22 June 2021). "Michel Der Zakarian nommé entraîneur du Stade Brestois (officiel)". L'Équipe.
14. (6 December 2021). "Michel Der Zakarian has sparked an incredible revival in Brest’s form". The Guardian.
15. (11 October 2022). "Ligue 1. Michel Der Zakarian "mis à pied" par le Stade brestois". France 3.
16. (17 October 2022). "Sacking season hits Ligue 1 as four managers lose their jobs in a week". The Guardian.
17. (8 February 2023). "Michel Der Zakarian de retour à la maison". Montpellier HSC.
18. (25 October 2023). "Mamadou Sakho fights & ‘grabs manager by collar’ after being called a ‘cry-baby’".
19. (20 October 2024). "Montpellier's Michel Der Zakarian dismissed following 5-0 home loss against Marseille". Get French Football News.
20. (18 February 2025). "Bruno Baltazar écarté, Michel Der Zakarian lui succède à Caen en Ligue 2". L'Équipe.
21. "Michel Der Zakarian confirme son départ de Caen, relégué en National, en fin de saison".
22. "France League Cup 1991/92".