Patrice Canayer has been the coach of Montpellier since 1994. But this summer, he steps down, and now it’s confirmed that Erick Mathé will take over on the coaching bench.
– No one will probably be able to match Patrice’s titles, but winning titles in Montpellier is something I want to achieve next season,” he said on the club’s website.
Patrice Canayer is a living legend in Montpellier. He has spent 30 years as a coach in Montpellier, boasting two Champions League titles and a total of 14 league titles among his achievements. However, this summer marks the end of an era in the French powerhouse club.
It was previously announced that Canayer would step down, and now it’s confirmed that Erick Mathé will be his replacement.
Transition of Legacy: Canayer’s Successor Emerges
Mathé comes directly from Chambéry and has previously worked as an assistant coach to Canayer in Montpellier. He has also made a name for himself as an assistant coach to Guillaume Gille in the French national team.
– Erick is a true club coach who truly embodies Montpellier Handball’s values. We will change coaches at the end of the season, but we will maintain the same ambitions, said club president Julien Deljarry on the club’s website.
Mathé’s Vision and Commitment to Montpellier’s Future
– It is a winning club, and I want to be a part of this winning club. Everyone tells me that they are Montpellier at heart, which is true. Paradoxically, I have spent twice as much time in Chambéry as in Montpellier so far. No one will probably be able to match Patrice’s titles, but winning titles in Montpellier is something I aim for next season.
Contracts are signed for four years, extending until the summer of 2028.