Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais on Thursday announced the sacking of head coach Jorge Sampaoli, with former Newcastle United defender Habib Beye taking over the hot seat in Brittany until the end of the season.
“By mutual agreement, Stade Rennais FC and Jorge Sampaoli, who was coach of the professional team, are ending their collaboration,” the club said in a statement on their Web site. “Stade Rennais FC are grateful for his commitment and respectful of his remarkable professional experience, and wish Jorge Sampaoli every success in his future career.”
Minutes after announcing the departure of the former Argentina national team head coach, Rennes published a second statement, saying Beye would take over with immediate effect.
Photo: AFP
“Habib Beye joins Stade Rennais FC until the end of the season, with predefined terms for a one-season extension. He will take charge of training on Friday, with his first task being to recreate a positive sporting dynamic,” the statement said.
The 47-year-old Beye played for English Premier League clubs Newcastle and Aston Villa, as well as French side Olympique de Marseille.
He was most recently coach of Red Star, successfully guiding the Parisian club to promotion to the French second division before stepping down.
His predecessor at Rennes arrived in November last year, but failed to revive the club, who lounge in 16th place in Ligue 1 — the relegation playoff spot.
Sampaoli, 64, managed his native Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup having previously led Chile to the Copa America title three years earlier.
He left the dugout at Marseille in July 2022, walking out shortly after leading them to second place in Ligue 1 due to disagreements about transfer strategy.
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