Puel takes charge of Lille
Monday, April 29, 2002
Article summary
Claude Puel, the former AS Monaco FC head coach, has signed a three-year contract with Lille OSC.
Article body
Claude Puel, the former AS Monaco FC head coach, has signed a three-year contract with Lille OSC which will see him take charge next season.
Tough task
The 42-year-old Puel has the difficult task of taking over from the Bosnian coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, who announced last Wednesday that he will step down at the end of the season after having taken his team from the second division to the UEFA Champions League in just three years. For Puel the new role promises to be a challenge as he has never played or coached for any team other than Monaco.
Title-winner
Puel took Monaco to Le Championnat in 2000. However, after a disappointing 2000/01 season with a first-round elimination from the UEFA Champions League, he was given the sack and replaced by Didier Deschamps, who, despite his experience as a player, was unable to achieve better results than his predecessor.
Lille in Intertoto
Lille, who are currently fifth in the French first division, will play in this summer's UEFA Intertoto Cup.
