Brave Football Manager, 73, Confronts thugs after they Invaded Pitch to Protest club's Relegation

Football manager Vahid Halilhodzic, 73, rushed to confront Nantes fans after they stormed the pitch during their game against Toulouse on Sunday.

In the 22nd minute of the match at Stade de La Beaujoire, flares were thrown onto the pitch, and dozens of fans flooded onto the field in protest against the club's relegation, which was confirmed last week.

Stewards scrambled in a bid to prevent the ultras from entering the field of play, but balaclava-wearing fans evaded them.

Security barriers were torn down as the players fled the scene, with large clouds of smoke visible and officials running to guard the players' tunnel.

Halilhodzic, who only returned to manage Nantes in March but was unable to save them from relegation, was seen being dragged away from fans as he remonstrated with them to leave the field.

The veteran managed to evade the member of security who was trying to drag him away, and came face to face with the thugs to plead with them to leave.

Soon after, large groups dashed back towards the stands as others booed and Halilhodzic was again dragged away.

The pitch was eventually cleared after French police were forced to intervene, but the match was soon abandoned due to security issues.

After the abandonment was confirmed, Bosnian Halilhodzic broke down in tears, with the match supposed to be his final in management before retirement.

He had already called it a day with coaching, but came out of retirement to try and save his former club, which he had featured for for five years as a player and also coached between 2018 and 2019.

The club had already been relegated following a 3-0 defeat by Marseille last week, and will finish in 17th place in the standings - one place above bottom club Metz.