RC Lens coach Franck Haise is delighted to hear that the remarkable job he has done in France has led to speculation suggesting he could replace Jurgen Klopp at Premier League giants Liverpool.
Of all the managers linked with a summer move to Merseyside – Jurgen Klopp stepping away after nine years of face-melting managerial riffs from the proponent of ‘heavy metal football’ – Franck Haise is perhaps the least well-known. At least, on this side of the Channel.
The work Haise has done at Lens, however, is worthy of far greater recognition.
Liverpool linked with Lens coach Franck Haise
The long-serving 52-year-old joined Lens initially as their reserve team coach in 2017 and, since being promoted to the top job, has taken the club from the second tier to second place. Lens finished runners-up behind Paris Saint-Germain last term, securing their place in the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
And while there is nothing at this stage to suggest that Haise is a genuine target for Liverpool – HITC Football understands that Xabi Alonso, Roberto de Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann and Ruben Amorim are the names under consideration – the former Lorient tactician is just happy to see his name mentioned alongside such contemporaries.
“What can I say? It’s good,” Haise tells RMC Sport, quick to point out that Lens are not a one-man band, their iconic frontman supported by an excellent backing band.
“It’s recognition of a job. A job that I don’t do alone. If we talk about the data, the work on the data, the results, the principles of play…
“It’s a work that is collective. It’s recognition for me from which we can take a little pride. Recognition of the work of the club for four years and more. I don’t have much else to say.”
Jurgen Klopp is leaving
Lens picked up a staggering 84 points in Ligue 1 last season, finishing just one shy of PSG. They also defeated Arsenal in the Champions League group-stages, albeit before losing 6-0 in the return fixture at the Emirates.
HITC, meanwhile, understands that Liverpool remain ‘quietly confident’ of beating Bayern Munich to Bayer Leverkusen boss and Anfield icon Xabi Alonso.
Thomas Frank of Brentford and Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou have also been linked.
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