With spells at Universidad de Chile, Santos, Olympique de Marseille and Sevilla to his name, the 64-year-old Argentinian coach, who has coached more than 700 matches, has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Stade Rennais F.C. He arrives in Brittany accompanied by Diogo Meschine, Pablo Fernandez and Marcos Fernandez.
The Casilda native is not only known in France for his successful spell with the club from Marseille. In 2018, he was in charge of the Albiceleste at the World Cup, where a spectacular match against Les Bleus ended 4-3 in favour of Didier Deschamps' men.
A former midfielder, Jorge Sampaoli soon embarked on a coaching career with a number of clubs in Peru, Ecuador and Chile. The latter destination enabled him to make a name for himself with Universidad de Chile, where he won the Copa Sudamericana in 2011. He stepped up a gear in 2012 and was given the reins of the red and white national team. With La Roja at the 2014 World Cup, he beat reigning world champions Spain to reach the last 16, before climbing to the top of the South American podium with the Copa America title. A title that turned into a springboard to Europe. In 2016, he took charge of Sevilla and finished 7th in La Liga.
A year later, he headed back to South America to bring his experience to the Argentinian national team, an adventure that lasted a year, until that famous clash with the French team. He then headed to Brazil for spells with Santos and Atlético Mineiro, before moving to the south of France with Marseille in 2021. He quickly made his mark with the Phocéens, playing a committed brand of football that delighted the fans at the Velodrome. The following season, Marseille finished runners-up and reached the last four of the Europa League. After a return to Sevilla in 2022 and a spell at Flamengo in 2023, Jorge Sampaoli returned to Ligue 1 McDonald's with the Rouge et Noir.
Arnaud Pouille, Executive Chairman and Managing Director :
« We're delighted that Jorge is joining us. He is a coach who is recognised internationally for his professionalism and humanism. He has a strong attachment to his players and staff, and is a loyal and committed man. We need his energy to get the club moving again and to face the competition with determination. In our discussions, we immediately noticed his love of the game and his desire to defend a collective project. Jorge's vision of how a group should be structured is clear, and the entire sports management team shares the same analysis of what we need to put in place: a taste for hard work, a demand for effort, respect for people and loyalty. »
