Rennes president confirms Sporting director Florian Maurice is expected to leave

Rennes president Olivier Cloarec has hinted that the club’s Sporting director – former France international Florian Maurice – is expected to leave his position. Julien Stéphan has been unveiled to the media this Monday afternoon at the Roazhon Park after a week of turmoil within the Brittany side. Stade Rennais’s start of the Ligue 1 season borders on disastrous after winning only two games out of a possible twelve. On Sunday, the club confirmed that head coach Bruno Genesio would leave his position and that former Rennes manager Julien Stéphan would replace him.

Genesio was Sporting director Maurice’s choice to replace Stéphan in the first place, back in March 2021. Now, the future of Maurice within the club is shrouded in mystery, not least given the club’s heavily disputed transfer window this summer. Les Rouge et Noir lack an experienced defender, a physical midfielder in his peak years as well as a reliable goalscorer up front.

Besides, Genesio was a close friend of Maurice, and the latter reportedly disagreed on giving the manager’s job to Stéphan. Maurice was a notable absentee this Monday at Roazhon Park. “Florian is currently reflecting on all this“, said Cloarec in the press conference attended by Get French Football News. “We will take the time we need to make the best decisions. If he’s not here today, it’s because he is heading towards a departure.”

Stade Rennais will need to address the matter quickly considering the winter transfer window will open in the coming weeks. “We will take these decisions with Florian“, added Cloarec. “If not, we will look for a new Sporting director.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval