The Suresnes native had a professional football career spanning some fifteen years, playing for RC Strasbourg Alsace, Olympique de Marseille, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Doncaster Rovers. A Senegal international with 45 caps, his playing career ended in 2012. In 2021, Habib Beye turned to coaching, starting out as assistant coach at Red Star Football Club, while also taking his Brevet d'Entraîneur Professionnel de Football, a diploma he successfully obtained in 2022. Quickly promoted to head coach, he helped the club stay in the National Division, the third tier of French football, and develop the sporting project over the next two seasons. In 2024, as National champion, he took Red Star up to Ligue 2. He was named the league's best coach.
Habib Beye joins Stade Rennais F.C. until the end of the season, with predefined terms for a one-season extension. He will take charge of training on Friday, with his first task being to recreate a positive sporting dynamic. The club has every confidence in him, and is convinced that he will be able to exploit the full potential of his squad.
A press conference will be held on Friday 31 January 2025. Habib Beye will be presented to the media.
Arnaud Pouille, Executive Chair and Managing Director Stade Rennais F.C. :
« Stade Rennais F.C. is delighted to welcome Habib Beye. Faced with a deteriorating sporting situation, we needed to make a change. Habib will be able to bring all his freshness, determination and knowledge of the French league to the team. The club has every confidence in him to fulfil the mission entrusted to him, which is to generate new momentum and climb back up the Ligue 1 table. »
Frederic Massara, Sporting director of Stade Rennais F.C. :
« We want Habib to contribute his knowledge and enthusiasm. We have confidence in him and are convinced that he will be able to pass on his energy and ideas. His qualities as a coach are obvious and he is destined for a brilliant career. It has to start with Stade Rennais F.C. »
Habib Beye, head coach of SRFC :
« It's a real privilege to be joining Stade Rennais F.C., a club with a long history in the league and known for its strong identity. When you see the atmosphere at Roazhon Park, you understand what it represents. The difficulties currently facing Stade Rennais F.C. must be transformed into a challenge. We've studied the team and Ligue 1 carefully and we're ready to take up the challenge.
I'm looking forward to meeting the team and getting down to work very quickly. What are my playing principles? I like my team to set the pace and maintain intensity.
A coach's ambition must be to optimise a squad that already has a lot of quality. We've got fifteen matches ahead of us and it's an exciting challenge. »
