‘Proud and excited': QPR appoint Julien Stéphan as head coach after Cifuentes exit
Queens Park Rangers have appointed the Frenchman Julien Stéphan as their head coach. The 44-year-old's arrival comes a day after Martí Cifuentes officially left, having been placed on gardening leave after the penultimate game of the Championship season.
Stéphan has worked in Ligue 1 in two spells with his boyhood club Rennes, with whom he won the Coupe de France in 2019, and one with Strasbourg.
'I feel very proud and excited to join QPR,' said Stéphan told the club's website. 'QPR is a historic club with strong values and passionate fans, so I feel honoured. I wanted to come here because I know there's a lot of passion around the club and around the team, and I feel very lucky to discover that.
'There is something unique about English football. The intensity, the atmosphere, the passion of the fans also, the tempo of the game, the culture around the club all make it a very stimulating environment for a coach.'
Rangers finished 15th but won only two of their final 12 games under Cifuentes, with a 5-0 home loss to Burnley his last game.
The CEO, Christian Nourry, said: 'Julien's track record of developing young players into world-class talent was a major factor in our decision to appoint him. Alongside this, both at Rennes and Strasbourg he achieved historic league success.'
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