Didier Digard takes charge at Lens on two-year contract

Lens have appointed Didier Digard as their new head coach on a two-year contract, ending speculation that Morocco manager Walid Regragui could take over at the French club.

Digard replaces Yannick Cahuzac, whose spell in charge lasted only nine matches after a run of disappointing results and growing pressure on the coaching staff.

Several candidates had been considered for the position, including Regragui and Frenchman Pierre Sage. Foot Mercato reported that Regragui had been a strong contender in the hours before Lens confirmed the appointment, but Digard ultimately reached an agreement with the club’s hierarchy.

Lens said the decision followed a process led by club president Joseph Oughourlian, involving interviews and discussions with a number of potential candidates. The club added that its assessment had produced a clear consensus in favour of Digard.

In a statement, Lens also stressed that major decisions are made internally, away from external reports and commentary. The club said Digard’s appointment reflected unity within the organisation and its commitment to its values, apparently seeking to end speculation about how the decision had been reached.

Cahuzac had been appointed after the departure of Dino Toppmoller, but was dismissed after overseeing only nine games. A heavy 9-1 defeat in the Champions League added to the pressure and accelerated Lens’ search for a replacement.

Digard, 40, played as a midfielder before moving into coaching as an assistant manager. He first attracted significant attention during his time at Nice in 2023, when he guided the club to the quarter-finals of the Conference League.

He moved to Le Havre in the summer of 2024 and kept the club in the top flight during the first two seasons of his tenure. However, Le Havre made a difficult start to the 2026-27 campaign, collecting only two points from their opening nine matches and failing to win any of them.

The team’s 5-1 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on 31 October brought Digard’s time at Le Havre to an end. He returns to the French top flight just weeks later with Lens, taking charge as the club attempt to restore stability following repeated changes in the dugout.

The appointment comes with Lens seeking a calmer direction after a turbulent start to the season. The club’s decision to select Digard over a group of alternatives also ends the possibility of Regragui moving into the role.