MHR: former player, director of the training center, Montpellier identity… who is Joan Caudullo, new manager of the MHR ?

Joan Caudullo, prêt à relever le défi ? Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Made official Tuesday afternoon by Mohed Altrad himself, Joan Caudullo will take the reins of the MHR for next season. Former player, director of the training center, Montpellier identity, discovering the new manager of the Cistes.

He may not have the most resounding name, that of an Ouedraogo, Paillaugue, Picamoles or Trinh-Duc. He is not from the Pic Saint-Loup or Mauguio rugby school either. But Joan Caudullo is definitely from Montpellier, from Jacou, north of the Hérault city.

The detail is important. President Mohed Altrad, on the occasion of his major staff reshuffle announced this Tuesday, June 18, wishes to impose a Montpellier touch in the mysteries of the club.

Also read: VIDEO: MHR: Bernard Laporte "will not be deputy president", "Doumayrou, Paillaugue and Caudullo, a full staff of Montpellier residents", Mohed Altrad takes stock

That’s why he didn’t replace Patrice Collazo with yet another manager from elsewhere. He preferred to promote internally. And it is Joan Caudullo, director of the training center since 2020, who will take charge of the staff from next season.

An appointment which is somewhat reminiscent of that of Fabien Gegenbacher in Lyon or Sébastien Piqueronies in Pau, two coaches with little experience of very high level coaching. The names are not flashy but they convey a club project, often focused on training, which was able to convince their superiors.

"Serious and competent"

Then Caudullo is not a complete stranger to the field. By his function as boss of the CDF, already, in which he is "serious and competent", says Bernard Laporte. He is required to constantly interact with his youth coaches and identify young talents.

Then last season, he found himself on the MHR bench, in charge of the forward pack. The departure of Olivier Azam during the season caused him to occupy this position for eight months. His acting was appreciated. Alongside Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, he reiterated that he learned a lot, while knowing that he had enormous room for improvement. But he knew he wanted to have this experience again. Sooner or later, it was going to happen. It came sooner than expected.

"Two different jobs"

At the time, he told us this: "I like to train, manage, discuss with the players, improve them individually ." He will do it as number one, not just with young people.

And what does he prefer, training or training? “I’love doing both. Afterwards, the work of a coach is special and difficult. The training is for the medium to long term. Whereas training is short-term. They are two different professions. Both are very pleasant", he replied last season.

[ Communiqué Officiel ]

Le Montpellier Hérault Rugby présente sa nouvelle structuration sportive pour la saison 2024/2025.

🔗 https://t.co/k00GL0ztMc#TeamMHR 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/QutpAEvBD4

— Montpellier Rugby (@MHR_officiel) June 18, 2024

As a player, the original Cressois, trained at RC Jacou, played 157 matches as hooker for the MHRC then the MHR between 2004-2012. From Pro D2 to the Top 14 final, he has, with his blue helmet, known everything at the club.

A staff 100% Montpellier (or almost)

In his mission, he will be assisted by Benoît Paillaugue, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Didier Bès, Antoine Battut and Jérémy Valls, all of whom worked at the MHR. All except Benson Stanley, who will take care of the ground game. Apart from the first, all of them have several years of experience under their belt. Caudullo, “The Straw” and Doumayrou will not be alone in this somewhat crazy bet launched by Altrad.

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