Monaco accept Deschamps resignation

Monaco's coach Didier Deschamps gives a press conference, September 14, 2005 in the Louis II stadium in Monaco, on the eve of his side's UEFA Cup first round football match against Willem II. Monaco have accepted the resignation of Deschamps, club president Michel Pastor confirmed.

Monaco have accepted the resignation of coach Didier Deschamps, club president Michel Pastor confirmed.

Deschamps had been reprimanded last week for calling Monaco a little club for failing to make any notable summer signings.

And the 36-year-old handed in a letter of resignation after Sunday's 2-0 defeat at home to Rennes which left the club sixth from bottom.

"I spoke to Mr Deschamps by telephone this morning. He officially announced his resignation over the telephone," said Pastor on Monday.

"Afterwards he spoke to the players. I'm used to it in my business - when somebody hands me their resignation, I accept."

Pastor said he was suprised by the decision which "Deschamps did not explain".

"He told me that he wanted to leave, that he could no longer continue and he no longer had any desire to stay at Monaco for personal reasons."

Pastor comfirmed that Deschamps' assistant Jean Petit would take over provisionally as coach for their next league match at Troyes.

"Our objectives will not change even if we're going through a difficult period," he said.

As to a possible successor, Pastor added: "We've been beseiged by offers since this morning, we're going to think about it calmly.

"We're not going to get carried away in the coming days, but take a decision in the next two weeks."

Monaco were Champions League finalists two seasons ago but are struggling this term which Deschamps has blamed on the management's failure to recruit new players.

Deschamps, France's 1998 World Cup-winning captain and 2000 Euro Champions skipper, took up his first coaching post at Monaco in 2001.

In his second season he guided Monaco to second place and they finished third in both the following seasons behind larger-funded clubs.

They reached the 2004 Champions League final after beating Chelsea in the semi-finals but lost to Jose Mourinho's Porto.

Monaco failed to qualify for this year's Champions League group stage after losing to Real Betis in the third qualifying round but last week beat Dutch side Willem II Tilburg 2-0 in their first round, first leg UEFA Cup match.

Deschamps enjoyed a glittering playing career, which he began at Nantes before moving to Marseille, Bordeaux, Juventus and Chelsea.

Deschamps reached three Champions League finals with Juve, winning the title once in 1996. He also won the Cup with Marseille in 1993.

The player once derided as a "water carrier" by former France international Eric Cantona, won 103 caps for France, 56 as captain.