Major cleaning in The Evening TeamOlivier Ménard announced the departure of Johan Micoud, Éric Blanc, and Régis Testelin at the end of the season finale. These three familiar faces, who have been regulars around the table for several years, will no longer be part of the current format of the sports talk show, which will undergo a major overhaul in the fall.
Three departures announced during the final broadcast
The announcement came late Sunday night, after Spain's victory over Argentina in the World Cup final. As he signed off and the season came to a close, Olivier Ménard made a point of personally thanking the three commentators. "It's vacation time for us, friends! Just a few words to thank Johan Micoud and Éric Blanc, whom I salute most sincerely, as well as Régis Testelin, for their services rendered, for their intelligence, for the joy of sharing a sporting moment with them.""The presenter said, visibly moved. He then added: "I embrace them from the bottom of my heart." Régis Testelin could nevertheless continue to appear in the show, but in a different role. "We might see it again in another form in the fall."Olivier Ménard clarified.
Johan Micoud and Éric Blanc, two essential voices
A former French international with 17 caps, Johan Micoud had established himself as one of the most recognizable commentators on the program. Regularly seated in the "president's" chair, the former Bordeaux and Werder Bremen midfielder handed out points, cards, and settled debates between the various participants.
He was particularly known for his very critical positions towards Didier DeschampsKylian Mbappé and the recent functioning of the French national team. Since the disappearance of Didier Roustan, he has occupied this central position even more frequently alongside Olivier Ménard.
Éric Blanc, for his part, brought a more direct and often mocking tone. The former international rugby player had become one of the program's main providers of colorful phrases and analogies. His departure deprives the show of one of its most unpredictable and recognizable commentators.
Régis Testelin could remain in another form
Régis Testelin's departure seems less definitive. (Journalist at the daily newspaper) The Team Since 2001, he is no longer expected to occupy his usual seat at the table, but the network is considering another way to involve him in the program. No details have been given about this potential new role. Nor have the names of Johan Micoud and Éric Blanc's replacements been revealed.
"The show is going to change a lot."
Olivier Ménard did not hide the scale of the planned transformation. « The show is going to change a lot.he announced, without revealing the specifics of the future set design, the new lineup of the team, or any changes to the debates. The management had already confirmed that The Evening Team It would be modernized, with more pace and new segments. The general principle should remain that of a talk show dedicated to debates, opinions and lively exchanges about current sports news.
A reduced broadcast schedule for the start of the academic year
Long rumored to be threatened due to declining ratings and cost-cutting measures within the group, the show will ultimately be maintained during the 2026-2027 season. However, it will lose several broadcast evenings. The Evening Team The show will no longer be broadcast on Sundays or Mondays. The channel wants to focus the programming on its most successful evenings and develop a faster format. This reduction marks a significant change for a show that was previously broadcast almost daily.
A show launched in 2008
Created and presented by Olivier Ménard, The Evening Team It has been broadcast since September 2, 2008. Its format is based on debates led by five commentators, drawn from journalism or elite sports, with a "chairman" responsible for judging the participants. The show celebrated its 4,000th episode in October 2025, during a special evening featuring a live link with After Football from RMC. Over the years, it has hosted personalities such as Michel Platini, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Sarkozy or François Hollande. Approaching its 18th anniversary, the program will therefore retain its place on the L'Équipe channel, but with fewer evenings, a new format, and a largely renewed team. The simultaneous departure of Johan Micoud, Éric Blanc, and Régis Testelin marks the end of one of the most established teams in the history of talk shows.
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