Saint-Étienne hold talks with Franck Haise and Philippe Montanier over replacing Eirik Horneland | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, AS Saint-Étienne have opened talks with Franck Haise and Philippe Montanier to replace Eirik Horneland, who remains in charge. The Norwegian is under pressure after a stuttering campaign.

Kilmer Sports Ventures, owners since three June 2024, favour data but seemingly overlooked how rarely promotion comes with a foreign coach new to France, Claudio Ranieri with AS Monaco in 2013 the lone exception. That trend appears to be playing out.

Horneland, 50, could not keep the Verts in Ligue 1, and has six defeats in 20 league matches, plus a 1-2 loss at Nice on 21 December in the Coupe de France last 64. No side in the top seven of Ligue 2 has lost more.

Saturday’s 0-1 defeat at Reims, who were down to ten early in the second half, seems to have been the final straw. A decision has been taken to end Horneland’s first job abroad, though he is contracted until 30 June 2027. The board are keen to avoid missing a promotion party on nine May against Amiens, three days before the 50th anniversary of the Glasgow final, a 0-1 loss to Bayern Munich.

Unable to recruit another overseas coach, including in Major League Soccer, the owners have turned to the French market. Haise, 54, and Montanier, 61, have been approached, renewing a rivalry after Haise replaced Montanier at Lens on 25 February 2020.

Both are out of work, with Haise leaving OGC Nice on 28 December and Montanier departing Toulouse FC on 14 June 2023. They are available almost immediately.

Each has a promotion on the CV. Haise went up with Lens in 2020, in a season halted soon after his appointment due to Covid. Montanier took TFC up in 2022, adding the title and a second Ligue 2 coach of the year award after 2009 with Boulogne.

Montanier ended his playing career at Saint-Étienne in 1999-2000 as Jérôme Alonzo’s deputy, making six appearances. Talks cover contract length, either a short deal like Olivier Dall’Oglio’s, six months plus a one-year option if promoted, or at least two and a half years.

Source: L'Équipe