After eighteen months in Nice and a challenging end to the year, the former OGC Nice coach has officially committed to Ligue 1 with Stade Rennais until 2027.
Just a few weeks after closing the Nice chapter on December 28, 2025, Franck has already found a new seat in Ligue 1. A year and a half after arriving on the Côte d’Azur, Franck Haise had left OGC Nice in a tense sporting context. The separation occurred “by mutual agreement” with the red and black management.
The end of the 2025 year for the Gym was marked by a series of nine consecutive losses in all competitions. A record in the history of the Azorean club. After a first season deemed satisfactory, the dynamic reversed. The results weighed on the continuation of the term.
Meanwhile, the institutional environment changed. Fabrice Bocquet left his position. Jean-Pierre Rivère and Maurice Cohen took over management. A change of coach followed. Claude Puel, who had already been on the Nice bench between 2012 and 2016, was appointed to succeed him.
Less than two months later, a new seat opens up. Stade Rennais officially announced this Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the arrival of Franck Haise. The 54-year-old technician led his first training session in the morning. A contract extends until 2027.
A Return to a Familiar Region
The appointment in Ille-et-Vilaine is part of a long history with the West. The Normandy-born has played and coached at Stade Lavallois, Stade Mayennais, Angers, and Changé. A collaboration with Régis Le Bris then led him to Lorient, as reserve coach, assistant, and then interim coach between 2013 and 2016.
Lorient was a gateway into the professional world. A trajectory that continued at RC Lens, first leading the reserves until 2020, then the main team. A 2nd place in Ligue 1 achieved in 2023 remains a notable milestone in this journey.
The arrival in Rennes is accompanied by reunions. Samba and Frankowski are among the players he has already encountered. Laurent Bessière, head of the performance department, is also part of the organization chart. Arnaud Pouille, president of the Breton club, reunites with a coach he had already worked with in the North.
On the club’s website, Arnaud Pouille detailed the expectations: “Franck is a recognized trainer who has left good memories for everyone here, and a respected coach with 200 L1 matches under his belt, strong convictions,” said Arnaud Pouille on the club’s website. “The staff’s missions are clear: to entertain the public, develop young talent, and secure European qualification.”
Johann Ramaré and Lilian Nalis accompany this new phase. The two assistants were already present at Lens and then at Nice. Thus, a technical continuity is established on the Rennes bench.
At the start, an old memory resurfaced. “When I received my gear this morning, it took me back 20 years…” A phrase that refers to his beginnings in the region.
Stade Rennais sets a clear roadmap. Entertain the public. Develop young talent. Aim for European qualification. The experience amassed over 200 Ligue 1 matches provides a foundation to achieve these objectives.
A new cycle thus begins in Brittany. After a difficult end of term in Nice, a new professional phase opens. The coming weeks will allow for an assessment of the impact of this appointment on the dynamic of the Rennes club.
