The coaching carousel spins once more in French football. Adi Hütter, the Austrian manager, has been shown the door at Monaco. A source close to the French league club confirmed this news to the AFP news agency today. The decision came down to a string of poor results. Now, the spotlight shifts to Belgium’s Sébastien Pocognoli, who is expected to step into Hütter’s shoes.
Hütter, 55, was in his third season with the Monegasque club. Despite his experience, which included stints with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Young Boys, he just couldn’t turn things around. The team’s last victory feels like ages ago, dating back to September 21. That day, Monaco crushed Metz 5-2 in a French league match. Who knew that would be the last hurrah?
Since that win, things have gone sideways quickly. They suffered a 3-1 loss away at Lorient. Then came a 2-2 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League group stage. Another 2-2 draw followed, this time against Nice in the league. Monaco currently sits in fifth place in the league standings with 13 points.
The European campaign tells an even grimmer tale. In the Champions League group stage, Monaco is floundering. They occupy a dismal 30th position, having managed to scrape together only a single point. This kind of performance is tough for any top club to stomach.
Sébastien Pocognoli, who currently manages Union St. Gilloise in Belgium, is the clear frontrunner to take over. It seems Monaco is ready for a fresh start, hoping Pocognoli can ignite a new spark in a team that desperately needs one.