According to our information, which corroborates that of the Parisian press, Jorge Sampaoli (64 years old) could well sign up with Stade Rennais to replace Julien Stéphan, who was dismissed from his coaching duties this Thursday, November 7 at the end of the morning .
The file has seriously advanced in recent hours, while until this Wednesday in the middle of the day, that of Habib Beye (who had met at length with the Rennes board on Tuesday) held the rope.
Except that since then, the former Red Star coach has been waiting for news from the management of the SRFC regarding a possible finalization, while at the same time, it has moved other pawns. In particular that of the Croatian Niko Kovac (ex-Monaco), but especially of Sampaoli therefore.
If it materializes and is validated by the shareholder in the coming hours or days, this choice, as explosive as it is risky, would necessarily raise questions, particularly considering the character Sampaoli in relation to what the Rennes club and its environment intrinsically are. The track was led by the new president Arnaud Pouille, with sporting director Frederic Massara.
“Break the codes”…
Internally, the idea of “breaking the codes” of the SRFC has been circulating since the start of the week, to try to wake everyone up a little.
In 2021-2022, the volcanic technician seduced the people of Marseille by taking OM to the 2e place in L1, in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League, with an intense game. Sampaoli traveled all over South America, winning the Copa America with Chile in 2015 before landing in Europe, in Seville.
He was also the coach of Argentina during the 2018 World Cup, and comes out of a short 6-month experience at Flamengo in Brazil, from where he was sacked in September 2023.
How long would the contract be? Possibly a freelance period of eight months, knowing in any case that the Argentinian is not used to long-term adventures.
Several deputies would necessarily accompany him, and the Samir Nasri rumor has circulated in particular. At midday, sources around the file had not confirmed this option to us.
