Former Ivory Coast star Serge Aurier joins RC Lens U15 coaching staff

Former Ivory Coast international Serge Aurier has taken his first steps into coaching after joining the youth setup at French club RC Lens.

The 33-year-old former defender has been appointed assistant coach of Lens’ U15 team, beginning a new chapter in his football career despite not yet officially announcing his retirement from professional football.

Aurier’s appointment comes shortly after his departure from Iranian club Persepolis at the end of June, with the former defender now turning his attention towards developing the next generation of players.

The move also represents a return to familiar surroundings for Aurier, who came through the ranks at Lens and began his professional career with the club.

Aurier joined Lens’ youth academy before making his senior breakthrough in 2009. He spent three years with the club before leaving in 2012, having established himself as one of the promising young defenders in French football.

More than a decade later, he is back at the club, this time in a coaching capacity.

His extensive experience at the highest level is expected to be valuable to the young players under his guidance. Aurier enjoyed a career that took him to several major European clubs, including Toulouse, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, while he also represented Villarreal and Nottingham Forest before continuing his career in Iran.

At international level, Aurier earned numerous caps for Ivory Coast and was part of the generation that helped the Elephants win the Africa Cup of Nations.

His transition into coaching will allow him to pass on the knowledge and experience accumulated throughout his career to young players beginning their own journeys.

Although Aurier has yet to officially close the door on his playing career, his new position at Lens signals a clear move towards life on the touchline.

Returning to the club where his professional journey began gives Aurier an opportunity to contribute to the development of future Lens talents while reconnecting with the environment that played a major role in his own football education.

The former Ivory Coast international will now work alongside the club’s youth coaches as he begins what could become a promising second career in coaching.