Queens Park Rangers have confirmed that Julien Stephan will become their new manager.
QPR placed Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave amid interest from West Brom in May but fans can now look forward to fresh leadership heading into the 2025/26 season.
44-year-old Stephan - whose brother is currently France's assistant manager - was last in charge of Rennes before a poor run of form led to his dismissal in November 2024.
This was Stephan's second stint as manager of Les Rennais after he led the club to their first Coupe de France title in nearly 50 years in 2018/19.
Further success followed the season later with a third place finish in Ligue 1 granting them access to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
Strasbourg would be his next destination and he started well, guiding the club to a sixth-place league finish in his first full season but ultimately he was dismissed the following campaign with his side languishing in 19th.
In a statement posted to the club's website, the incoming boss said: “I feel very proud and excited to join QPR,” he said.
“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.”
Years | Team |
2012-2015 | Rennes U19 |
2015-2018 | Rennes B |
2018-2021 | Rennes |
2021-2023 | Strasbourg |
2023-2024 | Rennes |
Heading into 2024/25 there was real optimism ahead of Marti Cifuentes' first full season in charge at Loftus Road after he had taken over from Gareth Ainsworth in October 2023.
The Spaniard arrived with the side having won just two of their opening 14 games, but he galvanised the squad, lifting them out of the relegation zone to finish 18th.
Many pundits thought that the R's would kick on under Cifuentes in his second campaign, but a 15th placed finish left some fans feeling slightly underwhelmed.
With one game left to play, Cifuentes was placed on gardening leave by the club amid interest from other Championship clubs - all but signalling the end of his time at Loftus Road.
QPR will now head into a new era, led by Stephan, and R's CEO Christian Nourry is excited about the partnership.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Julien and appoint him as Head Coach," said Nourry.
“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.
“He has demonstrated genuine excitement about our players in the first-team squad and the prospect of working with them to try to push this club on further.
“Julien’s appointment is the fruit of an extensive process that was undertaken by key club figures to identify, evaluate and recruit a coach that understands the club’s football philosophy and is energised by it.”