Stade Rennais have confirmed the appointment of former Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli as their new head coach, replacing Julien Stephan on a contract until 2026, the Ligue 1 club announced.
Sampaoli’s arrival follows the dismissal of Stephan on Thursday after Rennes won only three of their first 10 league matches this season. The team’s struggles continued with a 2-0 home defeat to Toulouse on Sunday, while Sebastien Tambouret served as interim coach.
The Argentine coach, 64, previously managed Chile from 2012 to 2016, leading them to victory in the 2015 Copa América and earning South American Coach of the Year honors that same year. Sampaoli has also had high-profile roles with clubs such as Sevilla, Olympique de Marseille, and the Argentina national team. His most recent coaching role was at Flamengo in Brazil.
Rennes CEO Arnaud Pouille praised Sampaoli’s clear vision for the team’s structure. “Jorge and his staff have a strong understanding of how a group should be organized, and the entire sports management team shares the same vision of what we need to build,” Pouille said. “A commitment to hard work, demand for effort, loyalty, and respect for both the people and the institution are key values.”
Currently sitting 13th in Ligue 1 with 11 points from 11 matches, Rennes will next face fourth-placed Lille on November 24.
