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Former Senegal International Habib Beye Sacked by Stade Rennais Despite Sixth-Place Ligue 1 Standing
Stade Rennais have officially relieved head coach and former Senegal international Habib Beye of his duties, ending his managerial spell at the French club amid a run of poor form, the Ligue 1 side confirmed on Monday. Despite Rennes sitting sixth in the league, a position that would qualify them for European competition next season, the club opted for a coaching change following a four-match losing streak and inconsistent performances.
The club released a statement saying it had initiated proceedings against Beye and his backroom staff, including assistants Olivier Saragaglia, Sébastien Bichard and Yann Cavezza, and that first-team training will be overseen on an interim basis by Sébastien Tambouret, Pierre-Alexandre Lelièvre and Maxime Le Marchand while a permanent replacement is sought.
Beye, 48, who was appointed Rennes head coach in January 2025, had overseen a total of 38 competitive matches, guiding the team from a relegation battle into the top half of Ligue 1. However, a recent string of defeats — including a 3-1 loss at RC Lens — saw momentum stall and ultimately led to his departure.
The official club communique confirmed that Beye’s contract was due to expire in June 2026, with an option to extend had Rennes qualified for European competition. However, with results dipping and confidence waning, the board chose to act before the end of the season.
Rennes’ statement emphasised that the decision was taken after careful consideration during a period marked by inconsistent results, and that discussions are ongoing regarding the terms of Beye’s exit.
Despite the change, Rennes remain in contention for continental football, and media outlets in France report that the club has already opened talks with Franck Haise — a coach with Ligue 1 experience at RC Lens and OGC Nice — as a potential successor.
Beye’s departure represents a significant moment in his coaching career and a notable development for African managers in Europe’s top leagues, where he was among only a handful leading teams at the highest level. His tenure at Rennes included stabilising the side and steering them to a mid-table finish last season before the downturn in results this term.