Football
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Christian Gourcuff confirmed as Rennes manager next season

Rennes president Rene Ruello has confirmed that Christian Gourcuff will be the club's manager next season and that his son Yoann could be one of the players working under him.

Gourcuff, 61, stepped down as coach of Algeria last month because he wanted to return to day-to-day management at club level.

He will replace Rolland Courbis, who had taken charge of the Breton club until the end of the season after Philippe Montanier was sacked in January.

"Christian Gourcuff will be the manager of Stade Rennais," Ruello told Ouest-France on Tuesday.

"We have not talked about the conditions -- that's not what interests him -- but the sporting project of Stade Rennais and the entire club."

It also appears likely that Gourcuff will get to work with his son Yoann, 29, who rejoined Rennes in November.

The former Bordeaux and Lyon midfielder has made 11 appearances since January and, although he is out of contract at the end of the season, the ex-France international seems set to remain at the club.

"I think the idea of working together pleases them a lot," Ruello said.

"I think Yoann is happy here. I hope he's going to have a good pre-season and that his [injury] problems will be behind him."

Rennes got to as high as fourth in Ligue 1 under Courbis but have lost four of their last five matches to drop to seventh ahead of this weekend's final round of games.

Gourcuff senior is best known for three lengthy spells as manager of Rennes' rivals Lorient, who he left in order to take on the Algeria job in July 2014.

He previously spent one season in charge of Rennes but was let go after the club finished the 2001-2002 campaign in 12th position.

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