Metz Sack Coach Le Mignan Amid Ligue 1 Relegation Battle

Struggling side Metz in Ligue 1 dismissed manager Stephane Le Mignan on Tuesday, appointing Benoit Tavenot as his successor.

A club announcement indicated that Le Mignan, appointed during the summer of 2024 following relegation, has been removed from his position.

Tavenot previously served as an assistant at the club between 2019 and 2022.

Under Le Mignan, Metz secured promotion back to Ligue 1 ahead of the summer 2025 campaign.

However, the current season has been a nightmare for the team. They languish at the foot of the standings with just 12 points from 18 matches, comprising three victories, three stalemates, and twelve reverses.

The campaign kicked off with three straight defeats, and their initial triumph came only on matchday 10 in late October, overcoming Lens - now league leaders - by 2-0.

This sparked a short-lived improvement, yet Metz have failed to secure a league win in their last six outings, holding bottom spot on goal difference ahead of Auxerre.

The team trails Nantes by two points in the relegation playoff position, and lies six points adrift of Nice, who hold 15th and safety.

The decisive factor in Le Mignans departure was the perceived lack of commitment from his squad, especially evident in a 4-0 defeat to Ligue 2 outfit Montpellier in the French Cup on January 11.

They followed this with a 2-1 setback against Strasbourg on January 18.

Metz face fourth-placed Lyon at home this Sunday.