QPR appoint former Coupe de France winner Stephan following Cifuentes exit

Queens Park Rangers have confirmed the appointment of former Rennes boss Julian Stephan as their new head coach, following the departure of Marti Cifuentes.

Cifuentes was placed on gardening leave in April after questioning the club’s direction, having been linked with the then-vacant post at West Brom.

He officially left the club on Tuesday, after assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm led the side to a 15th-place finish in the Championship, seven points clear of relegation.

The Loftus Road club have now turned to Stephan, who enjoyed two separate spells at Rennes either side of coaching Strasbourg from 2021 to 2023.

In his first spell with Rennes, his hometown club, Stephan delivered their first major trophy in 48 years, overseeing a penalty shoot-out victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2019 Coupe de France final.

Stephan’s second stint with Rennes ended last November, when he was dismissed following a poor start to the Ligue 1 season.

Stephan told QPR’s website: “QPR is a historic club with strong values and passionate fans, so I feel honoured.

“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.”

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