Lille hires Rene Girard as coach, replacing Garcia

By foxsports
Published

Lille hired Rene Girard as coach on Friday, replacing Rudi Garcia after the club finished a disappointing sixth in the French league this season.

As a player, Girard reached the World Cup semifinals with France in 1982 and won league titles with Bordeaux in 1984, `85 and `87.

As a coach, Girard led Montpellier to its only league title in 2012. Following the departure of striker Olivier Giroud to Arsenal, Montpellier struggled to remain competitive and finished ninth this year.

Girard also coached the France under-21 team from 2004 to 2008.

Garcia led Lille to the French league title in 2011 and to a third-place finish in 2012. He joined Roma on Wednesday.