Jocelyn Gourvennec in Swiss reset, youth and attacking play at heart of Servette | OneFootball

Jocelyn Gourvennec is steering Servette FC through a testing first job abroad, leaning on youth development and an attacking blueprint that is helping him reconnect with his coaching roots.

He was dismissed by Nantes on 19 March 2024. According to L'Équipe, he has lived in Geneva since 11 August, replacing Swiss coach Thomas Häberli after a start described as catastrophic following a 2024-2025 campaign that finished second.

After a Champions League last-16 run with Lille, he wanted a new league and explored Germany, even taking language classes. Many clubs there preferred coaches versed in their competition, while Servette sought fresh eyes and support for the academy.

He arrived without an assistant, by choice, and immediately targeted the Europa League third qualifying round second leg in Utrecht. The squad had been reshaped without signings, with several youngsters stepping up. The budget is about €15m, backed by the Wilsdorf family, owners of Rolex, modest beside Young Boys Berne.

He has found the division intense, with several Swiss-German teams pressing high in German fashion. Servette are lugging a poor start, averaging 1.26 points, not enough but improving. He wants a run and hopes a game in hand against Lausanne would take them to eighth.

At a multisport club that went bankrupt in 2005 and 2015, he is pushing a technical, dominant style. Now resident in Switzerland, he relishes working with the academy, accepting it will be hard to keep prospects courted by French, German or Italian clubs.

Source: L'Équipe