A major departure is finalized internally!

Stade Rennais is about to experience a major upheaval in its organizational chart with the departure of Olivier Cloarec, executive president of the club since 2021. According to information fromWest Francethe main shareholder decided to separate from Cloarec and replace him with Arnaud Pouille, former general manager of RC Lens. This unexpected choice comes in an already tense context, while the team faces Monaco this Saturday, October 5 at Roazhon Park.

Arriving at Stade Rennais as deputy general manager before taking over as executive president after the withdrawal of Nicolas Holveck for health reasons, Cloarec was unable to convince over the long term. Despite impressive financial results this summer, marked by record sales of around 150 million euros, including 60 million for the transfer of Désiré Doué, the outgoing president has failed to establish himself as a strong leader. According to certain internal sources, his lack of authority would have worked to his disadvantage, in a club where the role of president is increasingly scrutinized.

Arnaud Pouille as successor

The choice of his successor, Arnaud Pouille, is not trivial. Aged 49, the latter held the position of general manager at RC Lens from 2017 to 2024 before leaving the club following disagreements with president Joseph Oughourlian. His appointment appears to be a direct decision by François-Henri Pinault, influential shareholder of Stade Rennais, who had already orchestrated the arrival of Frédéric Massara as sporting director this summer.

Cloarec’s ouster comes after several warning signs. A meeting with partners scheduled for October 3 was canceled at the last minute, suggesting an imminent change. “A future announcement” was then mentioned without further details. This reshuffle raises questions about the future of the club, particularly the stability of the management team.

Cloarec’s departure could only be the start of a deeper reorganization. It remains to be seen whether this new management, with Arnaud Pouille at its head, will succeed in restoring momentum to the club which is struggling to find stability after a tumultuous season. For Stade Rennais, the future still looks uncertain, and the arrival of Pouille could redefine the contours of the sporting project in the medium term.