New leadership for academy
AS Monaco have appointed Dennis Schmitt as the new manager of their Groupe Élite youth side. The German coach takes charge of the Principality club’s under-19 development squad with immediate effect, filling the vacancy created by Djimi Traoré’s departure at the end of last season.
Traoré, the former Mali international, led the Groupe Élite during their recent UEFA Youth League campaign. His exit concluded a tenure that saw the youth side compete at continental level, leaving Monaco to seek fresh direction within their academy structure.
Frankfurt experience
Schmitt arrives with recent exposure to senior football. He served an interim spell in charge of Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt last season, stepping into top-flight management before returning to youth development with the Ligue 1 club.
The club has confirmed that Sofyane Cherfa will work alongside Schmitt as assistant manager. The Franco-Algerian former defender brings substantial playing experience to the coaching team, having made more than 300 appearances at professional level across various European leagues.
Domestic focus ahead
The forthcoming campaign will operate without continental competition for Monaco’s youngsters. The senior side’s failure to qualify for this season’s UEFA Champions League means the Groupe Élite will not feature in the UEFA Youth League, which is reserved for youth teams of clubs competing in the senior tournament.
Schmitt will therefore oversee a squad focused exclusively on domestic development pathways. The absence of European fixtures presents a different challenge for the new coaching duo as they work to progress players toward the senior setup.