Julien Stéphan replaced Bruno Génésio as manager of Stade Rennais last week, however, the club’s technical director, Florian Maurice, has told RMC Sport that the former RC Strasbourg Alsace manager was not his first choice.
It has been a turbulent international break at Rennes. In the final game before the break, Les Rennais lost against Olympique Lyonnais, who prior to their visit to Roazhon Park had not won a game all season. Despite that result, reports suggested that Génésio would remain at the club, but just days later there was a change of heart and it was announced that the manager would part ways with the club by mutual consent. “Personal reasons” were cited in an official statement, which also informed of Stéphan’s return to the club.
Did Maurice play a backseat role in bringing Stéphan back to Rennes?
It was club owner François Pinaultp who played a pivotal role in bringing Stéphan back to Rennes. The Frenchman has previously been manager between 2018-21. It seems as though Maurice may have played a backseat role in the recruitment process. It had been expected that he would leave with Genesio and during Stéphan’s unveiling, Maurice was absent. However, in an official statement, Rennes announced that Maurice would remain at the club.
He will now work alongside Stéphan, who was not necessarily his first choice, but time was of the essence. “In a period like that, where you have to move quickly and where there are few choices, the decision was taken in a way that allowed the club to move forward. I then had a discussion with the owner who confirmed that he wanted to move forward with Julien. He has the right to choose the manager,” began Maurice in an interview with RMC Sport.
He added, “I have to adapt […] I would be lying if I told you he was my first choice. Now, it’s like that and we have to move forward like this. I know him, how he works. I know the work he did here at Stade Rennais and we will continue the adventure together to pick the team up.”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
