Former Beşiktaş head coach Valérien Ismaël takes charge of Ligue 1 side Le Havre

Valérien Ismaël, who previously coached Beşiktaş, has found his next destination in France. The former head coach of the Istanbul club has taken charge of Ligue 1 side Le Havre AC. The 51-year-old, whose last post was at English Championship side Blackburn Rovers, thus returns to the dugout. The French club, who are enduring a difficult spell in the league, are aiming to put an end to their poor run under Ismaël.

In an official statement issued by Le Havre on Thursday, it was announced that Valérien Ismaël has been appointed the team's new head coach until the end of the season. The French club, who parted ways with Didier Digard at the end of October, noted that Ismaël had gained significant experience at the clubs he coached in England. The statement stressed that Ismaël has previously faced situations requiring urgent intervention during his career and that this could prove very useful in the coming weeks.

Le Havre, who have yet to record a win in France's Ligue 1 in the weeks played so far, sit bottom of the table with just 2 points to their name. Ismaël's primary objective will be to make the team competitive again in the battle to avoid relegation. The experienced head coach will face his first test after the international break, away at Troyes on Friday 20 November.

Valérien Ismaël took charge of Beşiktaş in March 2022, but his spell at the Istanbul club proved short-lived and the two parted ways in October 2022. The French head coach then continued his career in England, where he coached Watford and Blackburn Rovers. Having not coached a team for around nine months since leaving his post at Blackburn, Ismaël now returns to the dugout with Le Havre.