Valenciennes FC dismissed head coach Pierre Blois on Monday, October 12, just two days after the club secured a record 13-0 victory against amateur side CS Habarcq in the fifth round of the Coupe de France. Despite the historic margin against the ninth-division opponents, the 32-year-old manager was removed from his post as the team struggles in 15th place in the Ligue 3 standings with only two wins from their opening nine league matches.
Dismissal Follows Historic Cup Win
The decision to relieve Pierre Blois of his duties came in a club statement released on Monday afternoon, as reported by Le Figaro and corroborated by RMC Sport via Yahoo Sports. The announcement arrived barely 48 hours after Valenciennes routed district-level side CS Habarcq 13-0 in the Coupe de France, marking the largest victory in the history of the northern club. “Pierre Blois s’est vu retirer la responsabilité de l’équipe première à compter de ce lundi 12 octobre,” the club stated in its official release. RMC Sport noted that the match featured a hat-trick from Franco-Canadian forward Luka Boiteau against the overmatched amateur defense.
Struggles in Ligue 3 Standings
While the Coupe de France provided a high-scoring respite, Valenciennes’ league campaign under Blois proved far more difficult. Promoted to the professional helm in February 2026 after previously coaching various youth ranks including the U17s, U19s, and reserve side, Blois managed to secure Ligue 3 survival at the end of the 2025-2026 season following Stéphane Moulin’s departure. However, the current 2026-2027 season began with a heavy 4-0 defeat against Caen. RMC Sport reported that Valenciennes sits 15th in the table as the first team above the relegation zone, accumulating eight points from nine matches and suffering three defeats in their last four league outings.
Interim Staff Takes Over
To navigate the transition, Valenciennes turned to existing members of the coaching staff. Samuel Goethals assumed interim control of the professional squad, supported by former club defender Rudy Mater. “À compter de ce jour, Samuel Goethals assurera l’intérim à la tête de l’équipe professionnelle. Il sera assisté dans cette mission par Rudy Mater,” Valenciennes confirmed in its announcement. RMC Sport highlighted that Goethals, 37, previously guided regional club Pays de Cassel to the Round of 16 in the 2022-2023 Coupe de France, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain.
Upcoming Fixtures for Valenciennes
The newly formed coaching staff prepares for a challenging stretch in Ligue 3. Following fixtures against promotion contenders Amiens and Cannes, Valenciennes will face five direct rivals in the battle to secure their status in the division, with the club aiming to build a fresh dynamic under Goethals and Mater.
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