Le Havre Appoint Ismael To Replace Sacked Digard

Valerien Ismael appointed head coach of bottom club Le Havre

Valerien Ismael is back in management, with Ligue 1 bottom club Le Havre handing the 51-year-old his first job in his native France as they bid to climb off the foot of the table.

Ismael returns to management with Ligue 1 bottom side Le Havre...

Much-travelled Valerien Ismael has been appointed as the new head coach of Ligue 1 strugglers Le Havre, the club announced on Thursday.

The former Strasbourg, Crystal Palace, Lens, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich defender has agreed a deal until the end of the season, Le Havre confirmed.

The 51-year-old has previously coached in Germany, Greece, Austria, England and Turkey, but has never managed a club in his native France.

Ismael has been out of work since leaving Blackburn Rovers last February, after a year in charge that ended with the Championship club mired in a relegation battle before his departure.

He faces a daunting task at Le Havre, who have collected just two points from 10 games and are propping up the bottom of the table.

Valérien Ismaël nommé nouvel entraîneur du HAC. 🆕 Le technicien vient de s’engager avec les Ciel&Marine jusqu’à la fin de saison. Plus d’infos → https://t.co/9X3A5lfn4a https://t.co/kDwef21azd

— Havre Athletic Club ⚽️ (@HAC_Foot) November 12, 2026

His first match in charge will be a crucial six-pointer in the fight for survival, away at relegation rivals Troyes on November 20th.

Previous coach Didier Digard had kept the Normandy side in the top flight over the past two seasons despite limited resources, but was sacked at the end of October.

Le Havre Ligue 1 Standing