Claude Puel has been appointed the new Saint-Etienne coach, adding spice to Sunday's derby du Rhône at home to his former club Olympique Lyonnais.
Puel was at OL between 2008 and 2011 and failed to win a trophy, though he did carry the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2010. Saint-Etienne's official statement revealed Puel has been appointed as general manager and coach until 2022, after Ghislain Printant was suspended from his coaching duties earlier on Friday.
Back in the French game after spells at Southampton and Leicester in the English Premier League, former Nice boss Puel said: "Saint-Etienne are badly placed in the table and it's always difficult to take on a club part of the way through the season. It's the second time I've done it and it's a real challenge. I decided it was a good challenge. Saint-Etienne is a great club with a great history, fantastic supporters and a lot of epectations.
"It's important that I'm on the bench on Sunday and it will be a huge challenge. We need to show conviction and work together in order to get the best out of ourselves and get better results. After that it will be time to really get to know everyone and find the balance in order to get the coherence and game project that can initiate things at this club for an unlimited duration. After the derby there's a future."
