Esperance appoint Pablo Franco Martín as new head coach until 2028

Spanish coach Pablo Franco Martín has been appointed as the new head coach of Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

The 46-year-old Spaniard signed a contract that will keep him at Esperance until 2028. The former Maghreb de Fès coach has already commenced training with the club as he shape the team for the upcoming matches.

His appointment comes after an impressive campaign in Morocco, where he guided Maghreb de Fès to the Botola Pro title. The achievement was particularly significant for the club, as it ended a 41-year wait for the Moroccan top-flight championship.

Franco Martín’s success in Morocco has enhanced his reputation in African football and earned him the opportunity to take charge of one of the continent’s biggest clubs.

The Spaniard also brings experience from the European elite. During the 2018/19 season, he was part of the Real Madrid coaching staff, working as an assistant to then-head coach Julen Lopetegui.

Since then, Franco Martín has continued to build an international coaching career, with spells and experience in several countries, including Georgia, Kuwait, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

He now faces the challenge of translating that experience to Espérance, a club with enormous expectations domestically and on the African continent.

Espérance are among Africa’s most successful clubs, having won the Tunisian league title 34 times and the national cup on 16 occasions. On the continental stage, they have lifted the CAF Champions League four times, triumphing in 1994, 2011, 2018 and 2019.

The Tunisian giants have also won the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup, underlining their long-standing dominance in African club football.

Franco Martín’s immediate task will be to maintain Espérance’s competitive standards while building on his successful spell in Morocco. With a contract running until 2028, the club have placed their confidence in the Spaniard to lead the team through a new chapter both domestically and in continental competition.