It was one defeat too many. Julien Stéphan, Stade Rennes coach since December 2018, resigned on Monday 1er March, after another defeat of the Red and Black. Rennes went on Friday for a third straight defeat in Ligue 1, losing at home against Nice (2-1) at the opening of the 27e day.
“This morning, Stade Rennes FC took note of the resignation of its coach Julien Stéphan. The club would like to thank Julien for these nine years spent with the Rouge et Noir and for all the exceptional results he obtained at the head of the professional team ”, the club said in a statement on Monday. In his first year as Stade Rennes coach, he won the 2018-2019 French Cup against Paris-Saint-Germain. The following year, Stade Rennes managed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in its history. Philippe Bizeul, assistant to Julien Stéphan and holder of the BEPF (professional football coach certificate), will take over from Monday.
No victory since January 17
Appointed coach of Stade Rennes in December 2018, Julien Stéphan, 40, was the youngest of the Ligue 1 coaches. Son of Guy Stéphan, assistant to the coach of the France team, Didier Deschamps, he was under contract until June 2022.
The Bretons who will go to Lyon on Wednesday to try to give meaning to this season have not won since January 17 and see their European ambitions fading away.
In search of a new European qualification for next season, the Breton club lost its fifth place a week ago to Lens, after having already seriously stalled in the fall, during a first Ligue des Overall disappointing champions (one draw, five losses).
A few days ago, the president, Nicolas Holveck, and the technical director, Florian Maurice, had declared that Julien Stéphan was absolutely not threatened. They had just reminded the whole group of the European ambitions expressed at the start of the season.
