The Montreal Impact added a 20-year veteran of France's Ligue 1 to their technical staff on Tuesday, announcing that Remy Vercoutre has joined the club as a goalkeepers coach.
Vercoutre (pictured above at right, with Edinson Cavani) will work closely with Joel Bats, who was appointed goalkeeping coach last January. Vercoutre, who retired earlier this year, played for Bats during his years at Lyon from 2002 to 2014 and was coached by Remi Garde at Lyon from 2011 to 2014.
“Although heavily solicited in France following his recent retirement from the professional game, Remy was attracted by the Montreal Impact’s project to begin his transition and I couldn’t be happier,” Garde said in a statement. “He will be responsible for the preparation and training of our goalies in collaboration with Joel Bats. Remy is extremely motivated by the idea of transmitting everything he’s learned over the years during his career as a goalkeeper, notably the ones spent working under Joel. He’s therefore well-placed to continuing in Joel’s footsteps.”
Vercoutre, 38, played a total of 240 games in France’s Ligue 1 with HSC Montpellier, Olympique Lyonnais, Racing Strasbourg and SM Caen, and has also participated in UEFA Champions League and Europa League competition, as well as Ligue 2, Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France matches domestically. He won five French league titles, a Coupe de France, a Coupe de la Ligue and two Trophees des Champions.
“It's an honor to join the Impact’s ranks in 2019,” Vercoutre said in a statement. “The past 20 years have allowed me to gain valuable experience as a player and goalkeeper, and it’s time to pass on what I’ve learned. Thank you to president Joey Saputo, Remi Garde, and the club as a whole for believing in me. I’m impatiently waiting to begin working with the rest of the staff to bring this project to fruition and help the Impact reach the highest level possible.”
Garde’s coaching staff for the 2019 season will be comprised of Bats, Robert Duverne, Wilfried Nancy and Vercoutre.
