Habib Beye faces pressure at Rennes as European clause meets dressing-room tensions | OneFootball

Rennes sit sixth in Ligue 1, Habib Beye has an automatic one-year extension if they qualify for Europe, yet recent dressing-room tensions pose another hurdle. According to L'Équipe, the clause would take him through to 2027 should the season end today, but 14 matches remain.

Beye, 48, was appointed on 30 January 2025 after the Jorge Sampaoli fiasco, initially to finish last season with an extra year if the club stayed up. After meeting that target, his deal was improved and extended to June 2026, with the European trigger added.

His tenure has been a rollercoaster. Kept in the job in late October, he then collected 18 points from seven games, only to stumble through four poor matches, including three defeats, before facing Lens then PSG.

The winter window brought craft in Sebastian Szymanski and two attacking options in Yassir Zabiri and Arnaud Nordin, while Seko Fofana and Kader Meïté departed. After two flat seasons, missing Europe would be painful and could end his spell in June, unless events intervene earlier.

Rennes must regroup for the chase for fifth after abandoning the podium bid and exiting the Coupe de France at Marseille on Tuesday, 0-3. That night featured flashpoints involving Beye with Brice Samba and Mousa al-Tamari, alongside gestures of support from some of his players as they left the Vélodrome. Whether he can re-energise a squad that lately looks more drained than driven remains to be seen.

Source: L'Équipe