Singing in the Rennes

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SINGING IN THE RENNES
by Didi Cedat
Chief Football Writer

Surprise move to Stade Rennais dugout for new manager Drew Hill

Some years ago, a British-registered Peugeot traverses the French motorway network en route to a holiday in the Loire Coast.
The interest of a football-mad youngster in the back seat is caught by the sight of a football stadium rising above its drab suburban surroundings.
That stadium was Stade Rennais' Roazhon Park (Stade de la Route de Lorient as it was then known) and the back seat passenger was the man who this week was installed as the Breton club's new manager.
After enjoying a moderately successful managerial career across Europe, Drew Hill has finally taken the chance to return to Roazhon Park. This time in a professional capacity.
The Welshman described the job as a 'dream' but it came as a surprise to many, coming shortly after he had taken up a position at Eintracht Frankfurt and had yet to manage a game for the German club.

"Rennes is one of the clubs whose results I always look out for, after visiting the city and the stadium many times during family holidays, so to manage here is a dream." he said.
"On top of that I love the way the club is run, the stadium, the passion of the fans and even the club colour scheme. It is a great fit for me.
"I always wanted to manage here but when I saw that Cheyenne Hollis had been appointed I thought he would stay for the long term, it is why I went to a different club.
"When the job became available so quickly I felt I had to take the chance.
"It is not what I would normally do, to jump clubs in this way but it was something I felt I had to do.
"To the fans of Eintracht, I wish you all the best and I hope one day in the future I will be welcome there again".

Hill did honour his previous employers, taking his place in the Frankfurt dugout for an impressive 3-1 opening day victory over Benfica, just hours after his move to France had been announced by the FFO FA.
And while that result was a notable statement, there are many who wonder if the former Plymouth Argyle, West Brom and Gimnastic chief still has what it takes to manage at the top level.
Not so long ago Hill had his feet up at his home in the Netherlands and few experts predicted he would make a return to management any time soon.
Despite these doubts, he insists he can still manage at the top level.

"This is what I do," Hill said. "I have managed these sort of clubs for my whole career and always taken them onwards to the next step.
"Of course there will be doubts, I have them too, but I had a way of working which proved successful and I am sure it can work again.
"People change, managers change but they way the game is played stays the same.
"I am certainly more motivated than I have been for a long time, that is why I am back in the dugout".

Hill has brought his trusted right hand man Geoff Horsfield with him to Rennes as Assistant Manager and within hours of his appointment put a contract on the table for club legend Romain Danze to serve as his First Team Coach.
He is also expected to add an academy coach to his backroom staff shortly with the club stating that the development of its renowned academy will remain its main focus.
A club spokesperson added that Hill is 'fully on board' with this approach and keen to retain and extend the youthful feel of the current first-team squad.
Hill and his coaching team have not conducted any training sessions yet but travelled with the squad to Istanbul for today's EFL Cup 1st round tie against Fenerbache.
The first league match for the new boss will be the visit of Villareal to Roazhon Park on Friday, with Rennes eager to pick themselves up after a 2-1 opening-day defeat at PSV Eindhoven.