The French football community is mourning the loss of Jean-Louis Gasset, a true symbol of Montpellier HSC, who passed away today at the age of 72. The club he served for most of his life announced the news with profound sadness.
Gasset’s connection to Montpellier ran deep. His father, Bernard Gasset, helped found the club. As a player, he wore the Montpellier shirt for ten years as a midfielder, making 231 appearances between 1975 and 1985. His bond continued with three separate periods as the team’s head coach, the last of which was just last year.
In a statement, Montpellier HSC paid tribute to a central figure in its history. “A child of the club, he left a mark on everyone he met with his professionalism, kindness, and passion for passing on knowledge,” the club said, noting it had “lost one of its emblematic figures.”
“Our sorrow is immense when we remember his smile, his unmistakable voice, and his sharp turn of phrase,” the statement added.
While his main success as Montpellier manager was winning the Intertoto Cup in 1999, Gasset’s influence extended far beyond. He was a trusted and long-time assistant to former France captain Laurent Blanc. The pair worked together at Girondins de Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain, and with the French national team from 2010 to 2012.
Gasset’s own coaching career included leading several other French clubs, such as Saint-Étienne, Bordeaux, and most recently, Olympique de Marseille.
His final coaching role was on the international stage. He was the manager of the Ivory Coast national team during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. In a dramatic turn, Gasset resigned after the group stage, only to see the team, known as the Elephants, go on to win the tournament on home soil without him.
Jean-Louis Gasset is remembered not just for his career moves, but as a permanent and beloved part of Montpellier’s identity, a local boy who dedicated his life to the game and left a lasting impression on all who knew him.