Rennes sack Beye after fourth straight defeat

French Ligue 1 side Rennes sacked coach Habib Beye on Monday after just over a year in charge and following a fourth successive defeat at the weekend.

Despite their latest loss, away to high-flyers Lens on Saturday, Rennes remain in sixth in Ligue 1 and a qualification place for next year's European competitions.

Rennes said they had "initiated a procedure" against Beye and had placed reserve team boss Sebastien Tambouret in temporary charge.

The move comes with Rennes set to face champions Paris Saint-Germain next.

Rennes have not won since early January and during their four-match losing run were eliminated from the French Cup 3-0 by Marseille.

However, during that entire period, they remained in sixth, although now with a chasing pack of five teams within one win of them.

Beye was hired in January 2025 with the club 16th – the relegation playoff position – and lasted just 39 matches despite presiding over a noticeable upturn in form and fortunes.

The club sold talented teenage forward Mohamed Kader Meite to Saudis Al-Hilal for a reported €30 million  ($35m) a week ago and also agreed to sell highly-rated 20-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet to Liverpool for up to £60 million ($82m) at the end of the season.

Beye's only previous coaching experience was three years in the third tier at historic Parisian side Red Star, whom he guided to promotion to Ligue 2 in 2024.