Montpellier hires novice Camara as the new coach in a last-ditch bid to avoid relegation

MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — Rock-bottom Ligue 1 side Montpellier has hired inexperienced coach Zoumana Camara in a last-ditch bid to avoid relegation.

Camara, aged 46, has never been in charge of a men’s professional squad. He replaces Jean-Louis Gasset.

The much-traveled former central defender played for Saint-Etienne, Inter Milan, Marseille, Leeds, Lens and Paris Saint-Germain. He has worked as an assistant coach at PSG and managed the club’s under-19s.

In a season marking Montpellier’s 50th anniversary, the team was last in the standings, eight points behind Saint-Etienne with just six matches left. The two bottom teams are relegated.

Montpellier won its only Ligue 1 title in 2012. The club also won the second division in 1987 and the French Cup in 1990 with a team featuring the likes of Eric Cantona, Laurent Blanc and Julio Cesar.

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