Claude Puel set to return as Nice head coach after Franck Haise exit | OneFootball

Claude Puel is set to be appointed OGC Nice head coach following Franck Haise’s departure by mutual consent, according to L'Équipe.

The 64-year-old, who last worked at Saint-Étienne before leaving in December 2021, is expected to lead training on Monday. He will be assisted by Julien Sablé, the club’s academy director.

Puel previously managed Nice from 2012 to 2016, taking them to 4th in Ligue 1 in his first season and securing a first European qualification via the league since 1976-1977. After finishes of 17th and 11th, he delivered another 4th place in 2015-2016, with Hatem Ben Arfa scoring 17 and supplying 6 assists, two points short of the Champions League.

He later worked at Southampton in 2016-2017 and Leicester from October 2017 to February 2019, having earlier managed Lille between 2002 and 2008 and Lyon from 2008 to 2011. Returning to Ligue 1 with Saint-Étienne, he kept them up twice and reached the 2020 Coupe de France final before being dismissed in December 2021 after 12 points from 17 matches.

Nice have struggled, losing 9 in a row across Ligue 1 and the Europa League before a 2-1 Coupe de France win at Saint-Étienne before the holidays. They are 13th in the table, 5 points clear of Auxerre in the play-off spot.

Source: L'Équipe