‘Proud and excited’: QPR appoint Julien Stéphan as head coach after Cifuentes exit.

• Frenchman coached Rennes and Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
• QPR say he has a record of generating ‘world-class talent’.
•  

Julien Stéphan, a Frenchman, has been named Queens Park Rangers’ new head coach.

The 44-year-old replaces Martí Cifuentes, who was placed on gardening leave following the Championship season’s penultimate game the day before. Stéphan has spent two seasons in Ligue 1 with his hometown club Rennes, where he won the Coupe de France in 2019, and one with Strasbourg.

“I feel very proud and excited to join QPR,” Stéphan told the club’s website. “QPR is a storied club with great principles and devoted fans, therefore I am honoured. I wanted to come here because I knew there was a lot of love around the club and the squad, and I consider myself quite fortunate to have discovered it.

“There is something special about English football. The intensity, atmosphere, crowd passion, game tempo, and club culture all contribute to a tremendously stimulating environment for a coach.

Rangers finished 15th and won two of their final 12 games under Cifuentes, including a 5-0 home loss to Burnley in his farewell outing. Christian Nourry, QPR’s CEO, stated:

“Julien’s track record of developing young players into world-class talent was a big factor in our choice to hire him. In addition, he won historic league titles at Rennes and Strasbourg. QPR also announced Steve Bould’s hiring as head of defensive coaching and first-team coach. The former Arsenal, Stoke, and Sunderland defender will coach in the academy as part of his employment.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk