Rachid Meziane leaves ESBVA for the United States, Maxime Bézin takes charge of the team

The coach of the Villeneuve-d'Ascq (North) women's team, Rachid Meziane, announced his departure on December 4, 2024. Named best coach in the Euroleague in 2023, Rachid Meziane continued his disappointments this year with a difficult season . He will be officially replaced by Maxime Bézin on December 31, former coach of Lille Métropole Basket.

An earthquake for Hauts-de-France Basketball. This Wednesday, December 4, 2024, the ESBVA, Sports agreement Villeneuve-d'Ascq Basketball – Lille Métropole, announced the departure of its coach, Rachid Meziane, as of December 31.

Coach of the Villeneuve-d'Ascq women's team for six seasons, the adopted Northerner was offered an opportunity across the Atlantic, where he should take up the role of head coach with the Connecticut Sun (Uncasville), member of the prestigious WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association). Meziane will become the first Frenchman to occupy this position.

“The club therefore agreed to release Rachid so that he could seize this unique opportunity. He will nevertheless coach the next December matches of the Guerrières in the championship and EuroCup“, notes the ESBVA, moved, in a press release this Wednesday.

It is Lille's Maxime Bézin who should take over as head coach, supported by Antonio De Barros, already the club's assistant coach.

Despite the complicated season experienced by the Guerrières, 10th in the 2024 Women's League standings, the ESBVA notes that Rachid Meziane has marked the history of the club in many ways. It should be remembered: last April, the coach was named coach of the year after taking his team to the Euroleague final. The ESBVA girls were also crowned champions of France 2023 under his mandate, after an (almost) impeccable year.

“The ESBVA-LM remains immensely proud of this journey shared with Rachid and wishes him a brilliant future in this new adventure. If his departure marks the end of a chapter, but not the end of a story between Rachid and the club, it also opens the door to new perspectives for the future“, informs the Villeneuvois club.

The future coach of Villeneuve-d'Ascq made his debut at Limoges ABC, where he participated in the development of the women's team. After three seasons in men's Pro B with Lille Métropole Basket (LMB), Maxime Bézin joined the staff of national teams, notably the women's U20 and also the men's U19 selection, world champion in 2023.

An arrival that the ESBVA hopes will be a saving grace for this end of the year: “Despite the challenges encountered this season, in particular the injuries which disrupted our start to the championship, we firmly believe in the team's rise to strength.“

The Belgian Basketball Federation also regretfully confirmed the departure of Rachid Meziane to the United States. Because the Villeneuve-d'Ascq coach is also coach of the Belgian women's team.

“First of all, it's an opportunity that we absolutely want to give to Rachid, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”declared the general director of the Belgian Cats, Koen Umans.

The WNBA remains the highest level of women's basketball and, in our opinion, it is also a place where Rachid belongs with his qualities.

Koen Umans, general manager of the Belgian Cats

But for now, we do not know if Rachid Meziane will remain at the head of the Belgian team:

“As for Rachid's commitment as coach of the Belgian Cats, we will clarify it in the coming weeks“, Umans continued. “In the third and final window of FIBA ​​EuroBasket 2025 qualifying, we will play Azerbaijan at home on Thursday, February 6 and Lithuania on Sunday, February 9. We obviously hope to qualify again for EuroBasket 2025 and thus have the chance to defend our title.“