Saint-Étienne Nears Deal with Norwegian Coach as Dall’Oglio’s Replacement

Saint-Étienne is on the verge of appointing a new head coach following the recent dismissal of Olivier Dall’Oglio. The French club has set its sights on Eirik Horneland, the Norwegian manager who led SK Brann to victory in the 2022 Norwegian First Division.

Horneland, 49, unexpectedly resigned from his position at Brann last week, fueling speculation about his next move. The 2022 Norwegian First Division Coach of the Year boasts an impressive track record, having guided Brann to their seventh Norwegian Cup title and maintaining a win rate of over 60% during his tenure.

Before his successful stint in Bergen, Horneland gained valuable experience coaching Norwegian sides Haugesund and Rosenborg Ballklub. His potential appointment comes at a crucial time for Saint-Étienne, as the team currently occupies the relegation play-off position in Ligue 1 with just 13 points from 15 matches.

Dall’Oglio’s departure followed a string of poor results, including three consecutive losses in Ligue 1. Despite guiding the team back to the top flight last season with a third-place finish in Ligue 2, the former Montpellier manager failed to maintain momentum in the current campaign.

Saint-Étienne faces a challenging fixture against Olympique de Marseille in the Coupe de France round of 64 this Sunday at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The club’s management is reportedly working to finalize Horneland’s appointment, with an official announcement expected as early as Thursday.

In the interim, Laurent Huard, Saint-Étienne’s academy coach, has been named caretaker manager of the senior squad. The club’s supporters are hopeful that the potential arrival of Horneland will mark a turning point in their season and help secure their place in Ligue 1.