Former Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli takes over at French club Rennes

RENNES (AP) — Former Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is taking over at struggling French league side Rennes.

The fiery 64-year-old is returning to French soccer following a previous stint with Marseille. Rennes said that Sampaoli signed a 1 1/2-year contract.

Sampaoli, who was in charge of Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, replaces Julien Stephan, who was dismissed last week.

“The situation is not ideal and it needs to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Sampaoli said on Tuesday. “Neither the city, nor the club, nor the fans, nor the shareholders deserve this situation. This is a new stage that will require a lot of work. I accepted the offer because Stade Rennais FC is a great club.”

Rennes is looking for a jolt after a mediocre spell that saw the team slump to 13th place in the standings, 18 points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain after 11 matches, and just one point above the relegation playoffs.

“He is a coach who is recognized internationally for his professionalism and humanism,” said Arnaud Pouille, the executive chairman and managing director at Rennes. “He has a strong attachment to his players and staff, and is a loyal and committed man. We need his energy to get the club moving again and to face the competition with determination.”

The much-traveled Sampaoli has also coached clubs in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Spain and Brazil. He became Rennes’ first foreign coach in 18 years, according to the French league.

Sampaoli abruptly left Marseille in July 2022 after leading the team back to the Champions League, over a disagreement related to the club's transfers of players.

Sampaoli's first match in charge following the international break will be against fourth-place Lille on Nov. 24.

“We will first need to make sure that the team finds its confidence back,” said Sampaoli, who attended Rennes's 2-0 loss against Toulouse on Sunday.

“This weekend, with the change of coach, I saw a team in transition," he said. "I think that with a new method and new ideas we will be able to find a diagnosis that will help us improve the situation and boost the players' morale.”

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The Associated Press