A confusing turn of events at French men’s second division side Clermont Foot has a woman in charge of a men’s team at the most high-profile level ever in Europe — it just isn’t Helena Costa.
Costa was hired as the team’s coach in May, drawing worldwide headlines as a pioneer for women coaching men’s sports. But last week, she quit her post before even running her first training session. Former France women’s national team captain Corinne Diacre has been named the team’s coach after serving as France women’s national team assistant from 2007-13. Diacre played for France from 1993-2005.
Costa said she was treated with a “total lack of respect as well as amateurism,” by the club.
Club president Claude Michy’s view on why and how Costa left probably won’t sit too well Diacre. “She takes her secret with her. She is a woman,” he said, via the Telegraph. “They are capable of leading us to believe in certain things.”
But Diacre seems unfazed by those issues, and she is ready to prepare Clermont Foot for the next French second division season.
“Whatever happened before I arrived I only followed from a great distance and through the media. I am not passing any opinion on this matter,” said Diacre when introduced as coach.
“I came here Thursday after a call from Claude Michy (club president) because I wanted to form my own opinion and I knew what I wanted.”
Diacre was introduced to media on Monday:
Clermont Foot 63 : Présentation de Corinne Diacre by clermontfoot
