CF Montreal has a new head coach, and this time his name is Laurent Courtois.
The Montreal Major League Soccer (MLS) club officially announced the appointment of the former French player as the team's coach on Monday.
“It is an honor for me to begin this new adventure in Montreal,” said Courtois in a press release from CF Montreal. This responsibility fills me with great pride.”
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We don't really know whether to advise Courtois not to get too attached to Montreal or whether to remind the team's fans not to get carried away by this new coach. The fact remains: CF Montreal is its tenth head coach since joining MLS in 2012. What if this was finally a longer term solution?
“I look forward to working with everyone at the club and contributing to the success of the team,” Courtois, who will be officially introduced at the Nutrilait Center in Montreal on Tuesday morning, said during a press conference. I want to continue the development work started with our young players while offering fans a dynamic playing style and emotions.
The sports project
The 45-year-old Courtois succeeds Argentine Hernan Losada, who was dismissed from his service last November.
“We are very pleased with the appointment of Laurent,” said CF Montreal vice-president and head of sports management Olivier Renard. In recent years, Laurent has gained coaching experience that demonstrates his ability to implement our sports project with young players in the MLS.
Originally from Lyon, France, Courtois has been the head coach of the Columbus Crew reserve team since January 28, 2022. That means he notably worked with Wilfried Nancy, another former CF Montreal head coach, at the Crew organization, current MLS champion. Among many others, Quebec player Mohamed Farsi benefited from Courtois' advice to continue his development and establish himself in the team.
“In addition to his knowledge of the League, he has qualities as a leader, communicator and teacher,” noted Renard.
However, this is Courtois' first experience as a senior manager in a major championship.
A winner
In his first season in Columbus in 2022, Courtois led Farsi and the rest of the Crew's reserve team to the MLS Next Pro Series title. Previously, he helped the team win the regular season championship with a record of 16 wins, three losses and five draws.
In CF Montreal's case, the club finished last MLS season with a 12-17-5 record and missed the playoffs, finishing 10th in the Eastern Association. The Montreal team has suffered 13 defeats in 17 away games.
“We are confident that he can repeat his success with the core of the team and our young talent, while helping us achieve our goals by renewing the desire to win both home and away throughout the season ignited,” emphasized Renard.
Before becoming a coach, Courtois himself played in the MLS between 2011 and 2014, with Chivas USA, then with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He had previously played in France, England and Spain.
Following the announcement of the new head coach, the rest of CF Montreal's coaching staff is now expected to be named soon.
CF Montreal has been coaching since the team's arrival in Major League Soccer
Laurent Courtois – January 2024 at …
Hernan Losada – December 2022 to November 2023
Wilfried Nancy – March 2021 to December 2022
Thierry Henry – November 2019 to February 2021
Wilmer Cabrera – August 2019 to October 2019
Rémi Garde – November 2017 to August 2019
Mauro Biello – August 2015 to October 2017
Frank Klopas – December 2013 to August 2015
Marco Schällibaum – January 2013 to December 2013
Jesse Marsch – October 2011 to November 2012