RC Lens’ season took another sharp turn under the floodlights of September, but Dino Toppmöller has now explained why his spell ended after only six competitive matches. The German coach says his refusal to dismiss trusted assistant Nelson Morgado led directly to his removal.
Toppmöller, 45, had arrived after Pierre Sage’s departure and was dismissed on 15 September, before the international break. Lens had won three of his six official games, although only one of those victories came in Ligue 1.
Quick facts
- Dino Toppmöller coached Lens in six competitive fixtures.
- He was removed on 15 September after a mixed start to the campaign.
- Lens recorded three wins, including just one in Ligue 1.
- Toppmöller says Jean-Louis Leca and Benjamin Parrot wanted assistant Nelson Morgado to leave.
- Yannick Cahuzac was installed as interim coach after Toppmöller’s exit.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt manager said sporting director Jean-Louis Leca and chief executive Benjamin Parrot had raised concerns about Morgado, a long-standing member of his coaching staff. Toppmöller said they considered the assistant overly demanding, too vocal and involved in too many disputes within the club.
In his account, Morgado was presented as a disruptive presence around the Lens setup. The conversation, however, was initially calm and lasted about two hours.
“They tried to persuade me that it would be better for me and for the whole squad,” Toppmöller said. He added that the position changed when he declined to part with Morgado.
“They then told me they saw this as so essential that, if I did not agree, they would have to make a final break,” he said.
Coach stands by his assistant
Morgado had reportedly been judged too harsh in training and in his day-to-day work, a reputation that had caused tension with figures at the club. Toppmöller rejected that assessment and said he was stunned by the accusations made against his assistant.
“Had I seen serious misconduct, I obviously could not have accepted it,” he said. “But that simply was not the case.”
The coach said he was prepared to lose his job rather than abandon a member of staff he believed had done nothing to justify dismissal. “If I had to go against certain values, I was willing to risk my position,” he said.
His brief reign had nevertheless included a major early result: Lens beat Paris Saint-Germain to win the Trophée des Champions during the summer. It was not enough to prevent a rapid split behind the scenes.
Following Toppmöller’s departure, Lens promoted Yannick Cahuzac from the coaching staff to take charge on an interim basis. Cahuzac is a close associate of Leca, as the club attempt to settle a turbulent opening to their Ligue 1 campaign.
