Le Havre set to appoint former Senegal star Demba Ba as director of football

Former Senegal international Demba Ba is set to take a major step in his post-playing career, with a move to become director of football at French side Le Havre AC, following a standout spell in sporting management at Dunkerque.

According to reports, an agreement was reached on Wednesday, June 10, between Demba Ba and Le Havre AC, paving the way for him to take over the club’s sporting leadership role. The former striker is expected to succeed Mathieu Bodmer, who has confirmed his departure from the club.

Ba’s appointment is being viewed internally as a strategic move to accelerate Le Havre’s long-term sporting project. Club officials are said to have been particularly impressed by his work at USL Dunkerque, where he played a key role in reshaping recruitment structures and contributing to a more coherent squad-building strategy.

One of the key aspects of the new arrangement is continuity in leadership and recruitment philosophy. Ba is expected to bring along Romain Decool, who worked closely with him at Dunkerque and is set to join Le Havre as part of the new sporting structure. The duo’s partnership is believed to have been instrumental in Dunkerque’s recent progress, particularly in identifying undervalued talent and building a competitive squad on a limited budget.

Le Havre’s decision reflects a growing trend in French football of appointing younger, forward-thinking sporting directors with strong recruitment backgrounds rather than relying solely on former elite executives. Ba, who transitioned into management after retiring from professional football, has quickly developed a reputation for being detail-oriented, ambitious, and highly analytical in his approach to squad building.

At Dunkerque, his influence extended beyond transfers. He was also involved in restructuring scouting networks and modernising the club’s recruitment model, which helped improve consistency and competitiveness in a demanding environment. Those internal improvements are believed to have caught the attention of Le Havre’s hierarchy, who are now banking on him to replicate and scale that success at a higher level.

The move also signals a significant moment in Ba’s post-playing career trajectory. Once known for his clinical finishing on the pitch, he now steps into one of the most demanding executive roles in French football, tasked with balancing financial sustainability, player development, and competitive performance in a league where margins are increasingly tight.

For Le Havre AC, the appointment represents both a reset and an ambition statement as they look to stabilise and build a clearer sporting identity under new leadership.