Veteran coach Jean-Louis Gasset is coming out of retirement to help guide his hometown club, Montpellier, as they seek to turn their fortunes around.

The 70-year-old Frenchman, who had announced his retirement in May, was appointed as the new coach on Tuesday, stepping in to replace Michel Der Zakarian. Details of the contract have not been made public.

Der Zakarian was dismissed following a heavy 5-0 defeat at home to Marseille, marking the club’s sixth loss in eight matches this season. This disappointing performance has left Montpellier, the 2012 champions of France, at the bottom of the league, having already conceded a staggering 26 goals during a season that celebrates the club’s 50th anniversary.

While Gasset may not be widely recognized outside of France, his extensive coaching experience includes tenures at various clubs, including previous roles at Montpellier, Bordeaux, Saint-Etienne, and Marseille. He also served as an assistant to Laurent Blanc during Blanc’s time as the national team manager and while coaching both Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain.

Having played for Montpellier himself from 1975 to 1985, Gasset is intimately connected to the club. He was born in the city and is the son of Bernard Gasset, one of the founders of the club alongside Louis Nicollin.

In the past season, Gasset helped Marseille reach the semifinals of the Europa League after taking over from Gennaro Gattuso in February. Despite this achievement, he struggled to improve the team’s away performance, resulting in Marseille failing to secure a spot in any European competition.

Montpellier affirmed in a statement that Gasset’s recent experience, particularly with Marseille, showcases his skill in revitalizing teams that are losing momentum. This is precisely the challenge he now faces with Montpellier.

Montpellier has only claimed the French league title once, in 2012, and has a storied history that includes a second division title in 1987 and a French Cup win in 1990, featuring notable players like Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona, and Julio Cesar.

This isn’t Gasset’s first stint in trying to salvage Montpellier’s season; he successfully completed a similar mission during the 2016-17 season when he helped the club avoid relegation.