Monaco are set to make a surprise move by re-appointing Leonardo Jardim as the club’s manager following the sacking of Thierry Henry, sources at the club have told ESPN FC.
Jardim, who won the Ligue 1 title in 2017, was sacked as Monaco boss on Oct. 11, leaving the club in the relegation zone after five defeats in their first nine games.
He was replaced by Henry, but the former Monaco player was himself sacked on Thursday after failing to turn around the club’s fortunes. Henry won just four times in his 20-match tenure, losing 11, and he left the club 19th in Ligue 1.
Jardim will return for a second stint in charge and met agent Jorge Mendes and Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev to discuss his return on Thursday, sources have told ESPN FC. A further meeting took place on Friday morning and an official appointment is expected soon. The 44-year-old could even be in charge as early as this weekend when Monaco contest the biggest game of their season so far, against Dijon, opponents just two points above them in Ligue 1.
Henry’s Monaco were beaten 5-1 by Strasbourg at Stade Louis II in his final league game in charge and 3-1 in the principality by second-tier Metz in the Coupe de France. His short tenure was beset by problems and he had to apologise for verbally abusing a Strasbourg player towards the end of his spell as manager.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona forward failed to record a home league win all season but had originally been given a vote of confidence by the Monaco board, before a dramatic change of mind led to his departure.
Jardim also took the club to the 2017 Champions League semifinals in his first spell in charge.