SoccerThe Guardian
Julien Stéphan and Rennes go their separate ways with heavy hearts
The Champions League theme blared into the night. There was little to celebrate in 2020 but, due to the controversial early halt to the Ligue 1 season, Rennes’ Roazhon Park exploded with the joy of that familiar orchestral swell. Third place in Ligue 1 and some helpful Europa League results meant they were guaranteed top level European football for the first time. What president Nicolas Holveck described as “a very beautiful evening” was down to manager Julien Stéphan. Few coaches have been as impressive as Stéphan in recent times, but his era is now at an end.
