Rennes Sack Coach Lamouchi

Rennes have effectively sacked their coach Sabri Lamouchi after he was suspended in the wake of poor recent form, the French Ligue 1 club announced on Monday.

In a statement, Rennes said Lamouchi had been “suspended” and reserve team coach Julian Stephan been put in temporary charge of the first team.

Lamouchi is unlikely to return, meaning Sunday’s chastening 4-1 home defeat against Strasbourg will be the last of his year-long spell in charge in Brittany.

Rennes are currently 14th in Ligue 1, four points clear of the relegation zone before Wednesday’s trip to Lyon.

The 47-year-old former French international midfielder — who has previously coached the Ivory Coast national team and in Qatar — took over in November last year and led Rennes to European qualification via a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1.

A win at home to Astana of Kazakhstan next week will see Rennes advance to the knockout phase of the Europa League. It would be the first time in their history they are still involved in European competition in the second half of a season.

But Rennes have won just two of their last 11 league games and Lamouchi has failed to integrate successfully Hatem Ben Arfa, the club’s highest-profile signing at the start of the campaign.

AFP