TUŽAN end to a great coaching career. At the beginning of March, Vahid Halilhodžić, 73, returned from retirement to try and save Nantes from relegation. However, the mission to save the club was unsuccessful. Nantes was relegated, and the season ended with a chaotic match abandonment. Fans stormed the pitch and interrupted the game against Toulouse.

Following the fan invasion, referee Stephanie Frappart sent players from both teams to the dressing rooms. Halilhodžić, who refused to leave the pitch, engaged in a verbal altercation with the fans, prompting security to remove him. Halilhodžić addressed the media after the match.

"I had a crazy idea to stop them"

"What can I say after this? The situation is serious. The club has been relegated to the second division. And tonight it got even worse. There will be consequences. Sad, very sad. I don't have other words. This was my last match; I wanted to end my mandate with a small victory. You saw what happened.

I approached the masked men, I wanted to stop them, but security told me I couldn't. I thought I could talk to them, and they would calm down. I had that crazy idea. I've done many crazy things in my life. I understand the frustrated and discontent fans, but they can't do this.

The club doesn't deserve this. There is animosity towards the club president, but Nantes isn't just about its president. We all make this club. In my 40 years as a player and coach, I've never experienced this. These scenes will haunt me until the end of my life," said the famous coach.