Former Senegal international Habib Beye has been appointed as the new head coach of Ligue 1 side Rennes, replacing Argentine Jorge Sampaoli.
Beye, who will resume his role on Friday, has put pen to paper on a short-term deal until the end of the ongoing season, with an option for a one-year extension.
Sampaoli stepped down as Rennes manager on Thursday night following mutual agreement from the two parties. The 64-year-old, who took over the team in November 2024, failed to produce lasting results as they currently sit 16th in Ligue 1.
“Stade Rennais F.C. are grateful for his commitment and respectful of his remarkable professional experience, and wish Jorge Sampaoli every success in his future career,” said the club in statement on their website.
Beye, however, joins Rennes, having recently stepped down from his role at Red Star after leading the Parisian club to promotion to the French second division for the first time in six years.
“It’s a real privilege to be joining Stade Rennais F.C., a club with a long history in the league and known for its strong identity,” the 47-year-old said. “When you see the atmosphere at Roazhon Park, you understand what it represents.
“The difficulties currently facing Stade Rennais F.C. must be transformed into a challenge. We’ve studied the team and Ligue 1 carefully and we’re ready to take up the challenge.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the team and getting down to work very quickly. What are my playing principles? I like my team to set the pace and maintain intensity. A coach’s ambition must be to optimise a squad that already has a lot of quality. We’ve got fifteen matches ahead of us and it’s an exciting challenge.”
The Senegalese played in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg and Marseille as well as in the Premier League with Newcastle and Aston Villa.
Beye earned 45 caps for Senegal over a seven-year period from 2001 to 2008. He was part of the Teranga Lions squad that made history by reaching the quarter-finals at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
