Koki Saito’s rise has been sharp. It has been built on his own route, far from the traditional path most Japanese players take. Born in Tokyo on 10 August 2001, he started at Inuzura SC before moving through Yokohama FC’s academy, where his technical ability and football intelligence quickly set...
The signing of Kwame Poku by Queens Park Rangers (QPR) stands out as a sensible move. Poku arrives at Loftus Road as a high-ceiling individual, as well as a tactical maverick with rare adaptability. New QPR manager, Julien Stéphan, hijacked a near-complete move of Poku to Rangers, which speaks to...
Last season, Julien Stéphan guided Strasbourg to their best Ligue 1 finish since 1980, as they ended 2021/22 in sixth place on the table — a nine-place jump from 2020/21 under Thierry Laurey. This was, of course, an excellent start to life at Stade de la Meinau for the 42-year-old...
Three months after resigning from Rennes, Julien Stéphan was officially appointed as the new head coach of Racing Club Strasbourg. Seen by many as the brightest coaching prospect in the French game, Stéphan’s appointment last summer is considered somewhat of a coup for the Alsatian club. As they only secured...
The final day of Ligue 1 2021/22 was very exciting. Even though PSG claimed the title very early, the second place in the league was not decided until this game. Monaco gained an upper hand with a +4 goal difference advantage, with both teams sitting 68 points. In week 38,...
The 2021/22 Ligue 1 season has been quite ordinary in some ways. The capital club, Paris Saint-Germain winning another title is a foreseen circumstance that many could have predicted, it is what is taking place below them that is surprisingly many. Reigning champions Lille have failed to defend their title,...
Strasbourg have enjoyed a positive season so far in Ligue 1 under Julien Stéphan, who replaced Thierry Laurey as the club’s manager back in May. Following his March departure from Rennes, a club he’d guided to the UEFA Champions League with a third-place finish in 2019/20 — a stint during...
After guiding Strasbourg to a safe, 15th place finish in Ligue 1 this past season, Thierry Laurey’s five-year spell as RC Strasbourg manager came to an end in late May. Less than a week after his departure, Les Coureurs announced that former Rennes boss Julien Stéphan would replace Laurey at...
The second of Chelsea’s game against Rennes was played out on Tuesday but was in no part a walkover for the English side. The Blues battled to a lacklustre win thanks to a stoppage-time goal as the game was a constant battle for control with Rennes slowly getting better as...
Stamford Bridge will host the gameweek three fixture in the UEFA Champions League group stage between Chelsea and Rennes 4th November. This tactical analysis will take a look at how the two teams will face up against each other. Chelsea, led by Frank Lampard, won their previous UCL tie versus...
Since Les Bleus’ inspiring victory at the 2018 World Cup, French football has received an encouraging vote of confidence as one of the peaks of the sport. After recently being considered as the fifth wheel in Europe’s prestigious top five leagues, the country’s role in the beautiful game is...
