French Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais have appointed former Senegal national team defender Habib Beye as their next coach on a short term basis.
The former Newcastle United and Olympique Marseille right back replaces Argentinian boss Jorge Sampaoli for the remainder of the season following Sampaoli's dismissal.
Beye, who was previously on the wish list of fellow Ligue club FC Nantes, has the option to extend his stay at Stade Rennais provided they stay in the top flight at the end of the current league season.
Beye’s last coaching stint was at famous Paris club Red Star FC which he led to Ligue 2 promotion last summer from the third tier Championnat National before departing and he will be tasked with leading Rennes out of the relegation zone in a battle for top flight survival.
Rennes currently occupy the 16th position and the 47-year-old’s first assignment will be against Strasbourg on Sunday.
He said after joining the club: “It’s a real privilege to be joining Stade Rennais FC, a club with a long history in the league, known for its strong identity,” Beye told the club’s website.
“When you see the atmosphere at the Roazhon Park, you understand what it stands for. The difficulties currently facing Stade Rennais FC must be transformed into a challenge.” He concluded.
The former Aston Villa man was capped 45 times by the Teranga Lions, scoring one goal in his international career.
He was part of their squads at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2002 (runners-up), 2004, 2006 (semi-finalists) and 2008, as well as a quarter-finalist at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
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