Puel staying true to Lille

LOSC Lille Métropole have extended their contract with coach Claude Puel after he led them to the UEFA Champions League for the second successive season.

'Very proud'
The 45-year-old's deal was due to expire in June 2007 but the French club have now awarded a longer contract - for an unspecified period - with president Michel Seydoux saying: "Claude Puel has signed a new contract. I'm very proud and delighted considering all the other offers he has had."

Monaco rumours
Lille earned a place in the third qualifying round of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League after securing a 2-2 last-day draw at Stade Rennais FC on 13 May to cling on to third place in Ligue 1. At that point, many thought Puel would leave to take over at AS Monaco FC, where he spent 24 years as player and coach.

Squad resources
"I had to reflect on my future," Puel admitted. "After four seasons in Lille, I was not interested in starting a new cycle if we had to sell our players. I needed answers to my questions and they came bit by bit." He agreed to stay after Seydoux granted him the resources to keep his side together.