Gress named as Metz coach
Monday, January 21, 2002
Article summary
FC Metz have named Gilbert Gress as their new coach following the sacking of Albert Cartier.
Article body
FC Metz named Gilbert Gress as their new coach on Monday following the previous day's sacking of Albert Cartier.
New appointment
Metz had promised to announce details of the new appointment at 11.00CET on Tuesday, but the French club confirmed Gress's appointment on their official website. Gress will be introduced to the media at a press conference on Tuesday and will be in charge when Metz face SC Bastia in Le Championnat on Wednesday.
Successful career
The 60-year-old led RC Strasbourg to the French title in 1979 and experienced similar success with Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamax FC in 1987 and 1988. He has also been in charge of Club Brugge KV, Servette FC, the Swiss national team and, most recently, FC Zürich.
Fourth casualty
Saturday's defeat by non-league FC Libourne Saint-Seurin in the French Cup ended Metz's faith in Cartier. The northern club are second from bottom in the French first division and have scored only nine goals in 18 games. Cartier is the fourth French coach to be shown the door this season after Guy Lacombe at CS Sedan-Ardennes, FC Nantes Atlantique's Raynald Denoueix and Olympique de Marseille's Tomislav Ivic.
