After a 15-year tenure as head coach of Luxembourg’s national football team and a season in Germany’s third division with Waldhof Mannheim, Luc Holtz took charge of the historic French club FC Metz over the summer. Metz, located close to Luxembourg, is competing in Ligue 2 this season. The club has long attracted interest in Luxembourg, with various Luxembourgish players – including current national coach Jeff Strasser, Vincent Thill, Chris Philipps, and Laurent Jans – having worn the Metz colours over the years.
Metz’s connection to Luxembourg football goes back decades. Nearly 60 years ago, Johny Leonard and Fernand Jeitz transferred to the Grenats, with Jeitz serving as captain for many years. From 1973 to 1978, Nico Braun played for Metz and, at 75, remains the club’s record scorer with 109 goals. Braun recently visited the Metz training centre for a documentary by the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) on youth development. Currently, 16-year-old Hamza Kadamani is part of the Metz squad and has already made three appearances.
Speaking to RTL, Holtz praised Kadamani’s potential, but noted that it remains essential to see how the player manages his work ethic and his own development in the coming months. Holtz acknowledged that Kadamani will probably also receive interest from other clubs. The coach also emphasised that he will not sign a Luxembourgish player just for the sake of it, but rather focuses on the added value to the club and the team, also confirming that he has been in contact with various Luxembourgish players.
Holtz, who previously worked with Vincent Thill in Mannheim, confirmed he is open to signing additional Luxembourgish players for Metz, though potential transfers involving Danel Sinani or Christopher Martins have so far not materialised. He explained his approach in an interview with RTL.
Holtz is the first Luxembourgish manager in Metz’s history. He is supported by two former Metz players: Mario Mutsch, who worked alongside Holtz for years at the FLF, and Yannick Kakoko, who last season won the Luxembourg Cup as coach of FC Déifferdeng 03. Both assistant coaches have helped Holtz settle in at a club with high ambitions.
Holtz told RTL that the club’s ambition is to secure promotion to Ligue 1 next year, acknowledging that one can feel that pressure within and around the club. Nonetheless, Holtz stressed that he enjoys working with the players every day because of their enthusiasm and the fantastic training facilities.
After three matches, Metz sit sixth in the table with one win and two draws. Holtz is satisfied with the team’s early performances. The next challenge comes on Saturday against Annecy, where the Grenats hope to secure victory and signal their intent to push for promotion.
