It’s now official. Olivier Pants leaves the ACA with whom he was still under contract until June 2025. The information, revealed by Corse-Matin, was confirmed by the club this Friday, June 21, through a press release.
His destination would be Lorient to become the coach. After several days of negotiations, the Breton club would have chosen him to succeed Régis Le Bris and take the reins of a team which has just been relegated to Ligue 2. The objective will be to return to the elite as quickly as possible, with the necessary financial means.
Cahuzac, Bazin, Abergel…
There he would find the Ajaccian Yannick Cahuzac, who arrived in January 2024 and who would retain a position as assistant coach but also Pierre Bazin, physical trainer of Merlus met in Tours then whom he himself called to the ACA in 2015 .
Finally, he could rely on captain Laurent Abergel, a former aceist and with whom we know the closeness, to convey his messages within the locker room.
All this still in the conditional because at the time these lines were written, this Friday evening, Lorient had not officially expressed its decision, while some voices were reporting Jocelyn Gourvennec’s interest in the position. A final decision would be taken in the coming hours but it is difficult to see Pantaloni resigning without having had solid guarantees…
The end of an era
A fortnight before the resumption of the professional group, set for July 8, it is a hard blow for the ACA, weakened and whose responsibility for finding a new coach falls solely on the sports coordinator Johan Cavalli. The profile of the new coach will necessarily have to be modeled on that of a club with a minimalist, family structure and strong values. Not easy in an emergency…
“AC Ajaccio today expresses its deep gratitude to its coach for his loyalty and unfailing dedication to our colors. His commitment and determination have allowed us to stabilize our institution in the world of professional football.”indicated the Ajaccian club this Friday evening in a press release.
“Thanks to him, we were able to write some of the most beautiful pages in our history. The last two rises in Ligue 1, achieved under his leadership, will remain forever engraved in the hearts and memories of all the components of our club. The various podiums achieved and the saving graces will forever remain important markers of our professional history with Olivier. It is a real page in our great history which is turning today with his departure.
For his part, at 57 years old, Olivier Pantaloni takes on a great challenge and arrives with very strong experience in Ligue 2, acquired almost entirely at AC Ajaccio to which he is viscerally attached.
Its longevity on the aceist bench remains exceptional and almost unique in Europe. He has in fact just played 385 consecutive matches there since his appointment on November 6, 2014, just after a 16-month interlude in Tours (54 matches).
His departure therefore marks the end of an era for the ACA, marked by his mark for 15 years and his arrival at the head of the professional team on February 23, 2009.
A very complicated final season
He nevertheless leaves Timizzolo after relegation to Ligue 2, impossible to avoid given the resources provided, followed by a very complicated last season in sporting terms, marked by persistent tensions within the locker room and a management structure with absent subscribers.
But a date has already been noted: May 3, 2025 for a return match against Lorient in Timizzolu, which is obviously very special.
Kenavo Olivier and see you soon!
