José Anigo Resigns from Espérance de Tunis After Disappointing Confederation Cup Run
José Anigo has stepped down as head coach of Espérance de Tunis, following a 1-0 defeat to Al Ahly in the fifth round of the CAF Confederation Cup — a result that marked the club’s fifth loss in seven matches under his leadership.
Appointed on June 21, the former Olympique de Marseille coach faced mounting pressure due to poor performances and results that failed to meet expectations at one of Tunisia’s most prestigious clubs. After the loss to Al Ahly, Anigo confirmed to club president Hamdi Meddeb his decision to resign.
“I had a long meeting with President Hamdi Meddeb, whom I salute for his extraordinary human qualities. I explained to him that I could no longer continue,” said Anigo. “I regret this because Espérance is a very big club that will mean a lot to me.”
In his parting statement, Anigo pointed to limitations he faced in building the squad:
“I was not able to approve all the signings; I found the players already on site. The only ones I approved were Ben Youssef and Sissokho. I still think the squad has quality, but it must break out of this vicious circle of defeats.”
Club spokesperson Mondher Chaouachi confirmed the resignation and stated that the club would begin its search for a new coach starting Wednesday.
Anigo, 54, had a long career at OM as coach, sporting director, and later African scout. His move to North Africa came after personal tragedy — the death of his son Adrien in 2014 — which led him to seek new opportunities away from France.
Espérance, a club with a proud continental history, will now aim to stabilize and rebuild under new leadership as they prepare for the remainder of the domestic and continental calendar.
