Halilhodzic to quit Rennes

Stade Rennais FC's Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic will quit the club at the end of the season.

Relegation struggle
The 50-year-old coach, who led Lille OSC on their 2001/02 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup campaigns, took over at struggling Rennes in October with the club bottom of the table, having won just one of their opening ten league games. They are now fourth from bottom of the table, level on points with relegation-placed CS Sedan-Ardennes.

Official statement
"Vahid Halilhodzic has announced his intention to no longer exercise his functions as a coach at the end of the present season,'' read an official club statement.

Torrid campaign
The coach's decision has renewed rumours that he will take over from Luis Fernandez at Paris Saint-Germain FC in the summer. With Fernandez having confirmed his decision to leave PSG, Halilhodzic - who coached AS Beauvais and Raja de Casablanca as well as LOSC after finishing a playing career which took him to FC Nantes Atlantique and PSG - has emerged as a strong candidate for the job.

Renewed faith
However, in the meantime, Rennes have restated their commitment to Halilhodzic as he aims to lead his side to safety in the final two games of the season. "The entire club renews in Vahid Halilhodzic its entire confidence for the end of the season and is more focused than ever on the objective of keeping the club in Ligue 1," continued the statement.