Ex-Senegal International Leye Named Standard Liege Coach

By Daily sports on December 31, 2020

Belgium's Standard Liege on Wednesday named Senegalese Mbaye Leye as their new coach in a major breakthrough for Africans seeking an opportunity at top clubs in Europe.

The 38-year-old, who previously played at the club and worked as an assistant coach, takes over from Philippe Montanier. He has signed a deal to the end of the 2020-21 campaign, the club said in a brief statement.

Leye, who won three caps for Senegal in 2008, moved from West Africa as a teenager to play in France but spent most of his career in Belgium, eventually retiring two seasons ago.

The former striker was hired to work under Michel Preud’homme at Standard with a view to eventually taking over as coach. However, when Preud’homme left earlier than expected in June, club management hesitated to promote Leye and chose former France under-20 coach Montanier instead.

But Montanier was fired at the weekend after 28 games in charge, with Standard in 11th place in the first division standings. They will be seeking to end a run of four successive defeats when they play their next game at home to Waasland Beveren on 11 January.

Leye is only the third African international to have coached a top division club in Europe.

Angolan international Lito Vidigal has had a fruitful career in Portugal, taking charge of clubs like Belenenses, Boavista, Vitoria Setubal and, until the start of this month, Maritimo. He also worked at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and in Cyprus.

Last season, ex-Nigeria goalkeeper Ndubuisi Egbo took KF Tirana to the title in Albania and a place in the early rounds of this season's Champions League.

Other higher-profile African internationals to have flirted with top jobs include Nigerian midfielder international Sunday Oliseh, who had Fortuna Sittard top of the Dutch second division in early 2018 but then abruptly left after a fall out with management.

Omar Daf, who played full back for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, is coach of French Ligue 2 club Sochaux. (AFP)

•PHOTO: Mbaye Leye 

 

Source Daily sports

Posted December 31, 2020


 

You may also like...
Muhammed Ali planned own funeral

EPL big guns get easy FA Cup draw...

Co-or-die: Rangers out to stun Zamalek in Enugu...

Aguero: Players ‘Scared’ About Premier League Return

Grealish In Sex Scandal!

Igali Hopes For Better 2020 For Nigerian Wrestling,...

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,141 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,991 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,931 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,288 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,332 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,035 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media