Brest turn to Finistère youth for eighth straight top-flight season | OneFootball

Brest begin their eighth straight Ligue 1 season by pivoting to local youth after the death of coach Éric Roy and the exit of sporting director Grégory Lorenzi. According to L'Équipe, Julien Lachuer will lead a push to promote Finistère talent.

Raphaël Le Guen turns 20 on the first of September and is unrelated to Paul Le Guen. He made his first-team bow late last season and signed his first professional contract in January, running to 2029.

Lachuer urged caution, recalling a brief promotion two years ago that exposed Le Guen's limits, after which he returned to the Youth League and R1 to improve. He praised the defender's intelligence and said he has no doubt Le Guen will have a good season.

Clubs such as Crystal Palace are interested.

Roy, who died on 17 June, was Brest's longest-serving coach since Alain de Martigny, 1976-1982, his tenure spanning four seasons from January 2023 to June 2026. He also coached more Brest games in the top flight than anyone, 123.

This season will be Brest's eighth in a row in the French top flight, their 20th overall, a first since the club's founding in 1950. Their previous best run was seven, from 1981-1988.

Eleven players are out of contract in June 2027 and, if unchanged, will be free on the first of January: Ludovic Ajorque, Mama Baldé, Axel Camblan, Brendan Chardonnet, Grégoire Coudert (g.), Romain Del Castillo, Noah Jauny (g.), Kenny Lala, Bradley Locko, Hugo Magnetti, Lucas Tousart.

Source: L'Équipe

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