Jeandupeux takes Le Mans reins

Daniel Jeandupeux has been named as the new coach of Le Mans UC 72.

Goudet resignation
The 55-year-old Swiss coach replaces Thierry Goudet, who announced his resignation on Monday, although Goudet will remain at the Ligue 1 club as general manager. Having played for FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Jeandupeux has extensive experience in France, having previously coached Toulouse FC, RC Strasbourg and Stade Malherbe Caen, where he was named France's coach of the year in 1992. He gave up coaching five seasons ago to work in Swiss television.

'Shared philosophy'
"I met Jeandupeux a few days ago and felt he shared the spirit and philosophy of our club," said Le Mans chairman Henri Legarda. "Seriousness, tactics, strategy - he knows all those fields and it will give him strength to keep Le Mans in top flight."

Relegation threat
Le Mans currently lie 19th in the 20-strong league, and face Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain FC in the next few weeks, but Jeandupeux is in confident mood. "The last five are very close," he said "Nothing is lost for us. We'll face the biggest clubs in France, and I doubt we will save ourselves against them but we must win our games against lowly teams like ourselves."