Angers head coach Abdel Bouhazama has quit after giving one of the most ill-advised team talks of all time.
Prior to Sunday’s game at Montpellier, Bouhazama addressed his team and mentioned starting left back Ilyes Chetti, who is facing sexual assault charges.
L’Equipe reported details of the team talk, in which Bouhazama reportedly attempted to instill an “us against the world” mentality in just about the worst way imaginable.
“He said: ‘It’s nothing nasty. We all touched girls before.’ We were all stunned, without reaction, on hearing something like that,” an anonymous Angers player told the French publication.
Angers would then go out and lose 5-0.
Bouhazama admitted to L’Equipe that he had used those words, adding: “I also said that what my player did was wrong and that we all make mistakes.”
It only took two days for the pressure to get to Bouhazama, with Angers confirming the manager had left his position on Tuesday.
The club’s statement attempted to defend Bouhazama somewhat, saying his words were taken out of context, adding that the coach was already considering resignation before the Montpellier match with Angers firmly at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table.
“A controversy arose on Monday after remarks, taken out of context, made during the pre-game chat, leaked to the local and national press,” the club said. “Faced with media pressure and to preserve the club’s image and the serenity of the locker room, Abdel Bouhazama announced to President Saïd Chabane that he had decided to leave his position as coach of the professional team. The President accepts the coach’s decision.
“Moreover, the club does not accept any form of discrimination and condemns sexism and misogyny. Abdel Bouhazama apologized to his colleagues, especially women, and therefore preferred to draw the consequences of both his record and his clumsiness.”
Bouhazama was only named permanent head coach at the beginning of 2023, and has not been able to turn around Angers’ disastrous season. The club looks destined to be relegated, having lost 20 of its 26 league games so far this season.
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