Ligue 1: agreement concluded between Rennes and Julien Stephan

Highly improbable, only four or five days ago, the replacement of Bruno Genesio by Julien Stephan, on the Rennes bench has gained in consistency over the last forty-eight hours to the point of being, according to our information, now confirmed. The two parties reached an agreement this Sunday on the basis of an eight-month contract, until June 30, 2024.

If it is not authorized at the start of the season to commit to such a short period, it is, however, permitted during the course. No options for this contract are currently being considered. The officialization should take place this Monday, November 20. The technician from 43 will be hard at work from this date to prepare for the trip to Reims, Sunday November 26. He will, in particular, be accompanied by Denis Zanko, the former Laval resident, as announced by Ouest France.

When the name of Rémi Garde was also mentioned, the choice of Julien Stephan, already stationed in Rennes from December 2018 to March 2021, is clearly that of the shareholder François Pinault. The club owner holds him in high esteem. With him, Rennes won the Coupe de France against PSG in 2019, the club’s first trophy since 1971. Less than a year later, Rennes ranked 3rd in a championship interrupted in March 2020 by the health crisis, i.e. the best ranking in its history synonymous with qualification for the Champions League.

A little tired, Stephan chose to leave in March 2021. “I resigned and I think I made a mistake at that time,” he confided in March 2023 on beIN Sports two months after his ouster from Strasbourg. joined in summer 2021 (6th in L1 in 2022). We were ninth, 3 or 4 points behind fifth with a game in hand. I didn’t make the right decision for my career. If I had to do it again, I would do it differently. »

Genesio’s good track record

Bruno Genesio then succeeded him. The latter therefore decided in turn to leave this week. It will most likely be a negotiated departure. It leaves the club 13th in Ligue 1 with one point ahead of the play-off team, Lorient. Obviously the former Lyonnais no longer really imagined himself continuing the adventure. This was also one of the doubts surrounding his future at SRFC, in the medium term, while he is under contract until June 2025.

In the light of recent discussions with his leaders, Olivier Cloarec and Florian Maurice, respectively president and sporting director, he would, moreover, not have been convinced by the measures set out to relaunch the team, in the transfer window or a strengthening of the staff.

In two and a half years, Genesio has managed 124 matches in all competitions on the bench of the Rouge et Noir, for a record of 64 victories, 24 draws and 36 defeats. He thus holds the best winning percentage for a Stade Rennais coach in the entire history of the club.