The French football world is in mourning. Jean-Louis Gasset, a 72-year-old French coach and former player, passed away this Friday. Born in Montpellier on December 9, 1953, Gasset established himself as a prominent figure on the national and international football scene over several decades of his career.
A distinguished career
Jean-Louis Gasset initially played as a professional midfielder, spending most of his playing career at Montpellier HSC in the 1970s and 1980s. After his football career, he embraced coaching, notably managing his boyhood club on several occasions and holding positions on the benches of Ligue 1 clubs, including Caen, Saint-Étienne and Bordeaux.
On the international stage, Gasset had been the coach of the Ivory Coast national team at the time of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, an experience that placed him at the heart of African football before he left his post in January 2024. Shortly after, he was appointed coach of Olympique de Marseille in February 2024. Gasset ended his career on the bench of Montpellier HSC for the 2024-2025 season, prematurely interrupted in April 2025 with a mutual agreement to leave the club, while the team was struggling in Ligue 1.
Laurent Blanc's assistant at PSG
In addition to his duties as head coach, Jean-Louis Gasset had also held assistant roles, notably with Laurent Blanc at Paris Saint-Germain, contributing to the team's dynamics alongside club executives.
Gasset's passing has sparked a wave of emotion among French football fans and stakeholders. On social media, numerous messages pay tribute to the man described as a "legend" of French football, particularly from fans who cite his deep connection to Montpellier and his long involvement in the national game.
