14th place: Xavier Garbajosa has been removed from his position as Lyon coach

Xavier Garbajosa will not be in charge of Lyon next season. He arrived as Le manager in the summer of 2022 to replace Pierre Mignone, the former winger or the back of France’s XV and sacked on Monday by his boss, Jean Robert, he notes. the team And confirms Le Parisien-Today in France. A decision made eight days after losing the playoff at home (25-32) to the Purdue Union Beagle and at the end of the regular season finishing 3rd in the top 14 behind finalists, Toulouse and La Rochelle.

“This decision should make it possible to ensure the necessary serenity for the sporting group in order to enhance future performance and to continue the progress of the club in accordance with its ambitions,” the club stresses in its statement. statement Released in the early afternoon. LOU Rugby would like to thank Xavier Garbajosa for his commitment and contribution last season, which ended in third place, allowing the club to return to the final stage of the TOP 14 and breaking the attendance record at Matmut Stadium in Gerland. »

If Lyon placed in the six qualifiers for the first time since 2019, Garba also had complex relationships with its workforce. Those tensions with the player already subsided from Montpellier in 2021 leading some players to take issue with their boss after the home defeat to Brive (27-30) at the end of December or even at the beginning of May before a trip to Stade de France.

“I remain convinced this group can go much further.”

After the defeat against the Girondins, Xavier Garbajosa spoke of his “frustration and disappointment”, denouncing Bordeaux’s “indisciplined misconduct” and greater realism. “I am still convinced that this group can go much further,” said the person, who began his retraining as a technician in 2014 in La Rochelle.

If Xavier Garbajosa has two years remaining on his contract, his captains will now be looking for a capable profile to succeed him. New Zealander Kendrick Lynn will also leave the club, a decision made for family reasons in October.

“The current staff will be responsible for preparing for next season,” the club said. Applications for the position of Sporting Director will be considered but no recruitment will be made in haste given the skill pool already at the club. »