AS Monaco announced yesterday that ex-footballer and former head coach of Olympique de Marseille and LOSC Lille, Franck Passi, will be joining the staff as Thierry Henry’s assistant coach. His arrival comes at an opportune time for the club, who will rely on his experience to navigate the upcoming second half of the season.
The rumor had been circulating for some time: Henry was on the market for an assistant coach to fill out his staff. The suspense will have dissipated this Thursday, at the official announcement from the club. The Monegasque staff will welcome the new assistant trainer with open arms, as he brings with him years of experience. Franck Passi, 52, is the former head coach of both Marseille and Lille. He also knows Ligue 1 well from his time as a player with stints and Montpellier Marseille, Toulouse, Toulon, and even Monaco for the 1993-94 season.
“I want to thank Vadim Vasilyev and Thierry Henry for thinking of me. I am very happy to be able to join AS Monaco. I will use my experience of my past clubs to improve things here and to help the club take off. “
Passi’s familiarity with Ligue 1
Accustomed to the inner workings of Ligue 1, Passi has worked with coaches such as Eli Baup or Marcelo Bielsa, before taking the reins of Lille last season. Monaco’s newest assistant will bring that wealth of experience to the bench, alongside apparent complicity with coach Henry who is in his debut season. Presented at a press conference alongside the former Arsenal striker and Vadim Vasilyev, Franck Passi said he shared “the same football values” as Henry, sounding enthusiastic about his new role.
“I take things as they come, I’m not a coach with a projection at ten, fifteen years. I felt ready after the discussion with Thierry Henry. We have the same values of football which is very important to work together. I find that we can bring each other, and I concluded that I could come here to work as number 2. “
All efforts will be geared toward keeping Monaco above the relegation zone, specifically winning the two next matches of the season before the new year.