Real Sociedad look to Montanier for French freshness

It has been a manager merry-go-round over the summer so far in Spain, with most clubs in the Primera División staying close to home for their managerial appointments. Real Sociedad however after parting company with Martin Lasarte, decided on a different approach and looked across the border to France and that’s where Andrew Gibney tells us more…

Following the departure of Martin Lasarte, Real Sociedad moved quickly to name his successor. Philippe Montanier will be an unknown name to most La Liga fans; in all honesty he was an unknown name to most Ligue 1 fans until recently.

The former goalkeeper started his coaching career under the guidance of Robert Nouzaret as his assistant at Toulouse. Montanier then followed his mentor to Bastia and then as part of his coaching staff for the Ivory Coast national team in 2004.

It was in the summer of 2004 when Montanier took on his first job as head coach. US Boulogne were relegated to fourth division (CFA) in 2001 and remained there until his appointment. Both coach and club couldn’t have asked for a better start winning promotion to the Championnat National at the first attempt.  After finishing fifth in their first season Boulogne’s rise continued as they won promotion to Ligue 2.

In France’s second division Boulogne found it much tougher only escaping relegation on the last day courtesy of defender Damien Perrinelle’s 93^rd minute winner. Montanier worked wonders with his team in the second season, unbeaten in the first ten games; they then only lost two games in the next 20. Their excellent form earned them a 3^rd place finish and promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time in the club’s history.

Montanier’s great work did not go unnoticed and the Frenchman picked up Ligue 2’s Coach of the Year award. Then in a shock move at was announced that the then 44-year-old would not be in charge of the club for the coming season. Antoine Kombouare had taken the role as head coach at Paris St-Germain and Montanier was poached from Boulogne and installed as the new coach of Valenciennes.

Kombouare success at Valenciennes would be hard to follow; the side had gone from the CFA to an established Ligue 1 club. Montanier had a job on his hands, with the previous seasons top scorer Jean-Claude Darcheville gone the new coach brought in no less than eight new players, the rebuilding wasn’t done though Montanier moved the team away from Kombouare’s 4-4-2 to his own 4-3-3 system.

The new system took some bedding in, three defeats in a row wasn’t the start Montanier was looking for, but things started to click and after a run of good results Valenciennes found themselves sitting in third place after 16 games. The goals of Fahid Ben Khalfallah, Johan Audel and Grégory Pujol fired the club to a fantastic 10^th place finish, the best result in the clubs history.

Then in the 2010/11 season Valenciennes and Montanier found life a little tougher when the club had to sell some important players; Audel, Ben Khalfallah and Siaka Tiéné all left the club severely weakening the team. Montanier stuck to his game plan; playing his own brand of 4-3-3 the season would have its moments of success.

Pujol finished 5^th in the Ligue 1 scorers charts with an impressive 17 goals. Pujol was able to do so well because of the service of Danic on the left and Renaud Cohade, Rudy Mater and David Ducourtioux from the right. That deadly quartet combined for 21 assists last season. Anchored by the strong play of Colombian Carlos Sánchez and Rémi Gomis the attacking players had the platform to go forward and create.

In what has a crazy season at the bottom of Ligue 1, Valenciennes started the last day facing the possibility of relegation but a 2-1 win over Nice on the final day saw Montanier’s side finish 12^th. The last game at the Stade Nungesser would of course also be Montanier’s last game in charge of Valenciennes.

There is no doubting the influence Montanier has on his sides, guiding both Valenciennes and Boulogne to the best seasons in club history is no mean feat. Real Sociedad fans will hope he can bring similar success to San Sebastián. Under Montanier anything is possible.

Andrew is our regular correspondent for when France and Spain collide, you may remember his fantastic profile of Valencia’s new boy Adil Rami in fact. He further showcases his talents through the Gibfootballshow and French Football Weekly websites, while you can also follow him via Twitter here.

Tags: Antoine Griezmann, La Liga, Ligue 1, Phillipe Montanier, Real Sociedad, Valenciennes