Habib Beye: The story behind Rennes' new head coach
One To Watch
Working with Pierre Sage, Red Star, positional play, and being a famous TV pundit. We take a look at Habib Beye and his journey to becoming the head coach of Stade Rennais.
A goal from Ludovic Blas in the final minutes was enough for Stade Rennais to secure a big three points against Strasbourg at home last weekend (1-0), and a first win after a run of four defeats which saw Jorge Sampaoli leave the club. It was also a significant moment for new Rouge et Noir coach Habib Beye, who stepped into his first-ever Ligue 1 McDonald's affair and came away with his first for the Bretons.
"I've worked hard and built myself up to reach the very highest level, and Stade Rennais represents the very highest level," said Beye when he joined the club. The former Olympique de Marseille, Newcastle, and Aston Villa defender is well-known in France as one of the best co-commentators and tactical analysts on television. Following his retirement from the professional game, he became a regular for the French TV audience covering the biggest matches and those UEFA Champions League nights under the lights. But it wasn't enough.
In 2021 Beye joined the coaching staff of a historic club in the suburbs of Paris, Red Star FC, who were fighting to stay up in France's third division. The club were struggling at the bottom end of the table, and had up until then been fighting for a return to Ligue 2 BKT since relegation in the 2018-2019 season. When manager Vincent Bordot was sacked, it was Beye who stepped into the spotlight with the five-time Coupe de France winners.
Rising with Red star
The priority for Beye in his first half-season at the club was to stay in the division: Red Star managed to pull off an 11th-placed finish in the Championnat National, despite a difficult context when the club's supporters protested a controversial sale of the club to 777 Partners. Beye signed a two-year contract extension after he kept the club up in the league, and finished his coaching qualifications.
The following season would see Beye implement his style of play based on possession, explosivity, and endurance. He would of course have a little help from his assistant coach Pierre Sage, who would go on to manage Olympique Lyonnais and take Les Gones to the Europa League.
“I’m really influenced by positional play,” Beye said last summer. “I was helped with that a lot by Pierre Sage – I needed someone who had mastered that approach so I could put in place my methodology.”
It would be the beginnings of a promotion charge that saw L'Étoile Rouge go head to head until the end of the season with four other clubs. On the last day of the season, Red Star missed out on promotion to Ligue 2 BKT by a matter of two points. The following season Beye and Red Star were more determined than ever to reach the second division.
Les Audoniens this time managed to go on and win the league with style, putting Habib Beye and his team back on the map in French football. But Beye wouldn't go on to manage in Ligue 2 BKT with Red Star this season, opting to leave the club and find an opportunity to manage in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
Beye: 'I have to bring belief' to Rennes
"On a human level, it's been incredible. There's that and the pride of knowing that today we have a historic club that has no business being in National," said Beye after promotion. "I am, however, an ambitious person."
That ambition - and patience - seems to have paid off. After waiting the first half of the season out of the game and back on French television, Beye is now back with Stade Rennais. "Dynamism, joy and enthusiasm are important words," said Beye after joining the Bretons side. "This must be an exceptional adventure. If you think negatively, you'll only convey negativity. I have to bring belief."
Beye does have work to do with Rennes. Les Rouge et Noir sit precariously in the table in 15th place, only two points ahead of Saint-Étienne in the relegation play-off spot. What's more, is that Rennes will face Sainté in their next Ligue 1 McDonald's outing on Sunday afternoon (21:05 CET). Talk about a big game…
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