Rennes have made their move in the race for Champions League football. The French club announced on Wednesday that Franck Haise is their new head coach, signing a deal that runs until 2027.
Haise steps in after Habib Beye's departure and faces an immediate challenge. Rennes sit sixth in Ligue 1, six points behind fourth-place Marseille with just 12 matches remaining. That fourth spot means Champions League qualifying rounds, and it's exactly what the club's hierarchy is demanding from their new boss.
The 54-year-old knows Rennes well. He actually started his coaching journey there, running the youth academy from 2006 to 2012. Now he's back at the top level, looking to build on last Friday's impressive 3-1 victory over PSG.
From Lens Success to Nice Struggles
Haise arrives after a turbulent few months. He started this season at Nice but was sacked in December following poor results and friction with the fanbase. It was a sharp contrast to his stellar work at Lens between 2020 and 2024.
At Lens, Haise became one of France's most respected tacticians. He guided them to second place in 2023, finishing just one point behind PSG's star-studded squad. That achievement earned Lens Champions League football and cemented Haise's reputation as a shrewd operator who maximizes his squad's potential.
For punters watching the top-four race, Haise's appointment could shift the odds. His track record suggests Rennes might be worth another look in the Champions League qualification markets, especially given that recent win over PSG. His assistants from Nice, Johann Ramaré and Lilian Nalis, join him in this new chapter.
The Coach Who Escapes Through Wine
Here's something you don't hear every day in football. Haise is such a passionate wine collector that his mates nicknamed him "The Oenologist." He's not just casually interested either - he's properly devoted to it.
In a 2023 interview with Ouest-France, Haise explained how wine helps him cope with management pressure. "When I read the French review of wines, when I watch a program on television about wine or when I am taking part in a tasting, these are the rare moments I'm not thinking about football," he said.
His first match? A trip to Auxerre on Sunday. The town sits in northern Burgundy, famous for Chablis white wine. You can bet Haise knows the local vineyards already. Maybe a good bottle will help him celebrate three points in his Rennes return.
