News Focus
- Lille president Olivier Létang has made former Juventus coach Thiago Motta his number one target for the managerial role
- Current head coach Bruno Génésio confirms his contract talks have stalled ahead of his June expiry date
- Motta has been out of work since leaving Juventus in March 2025, attracting interest from several European sides
Ligue 1 club Lille OSC are preparing to make a move for Thiago Motta as they plan for life without Bruno Génésio. The French side view the Italian-Brazilian coach as the perfect man to take over the dugout when Génésio’s deal runs out at the end of June.
Club president Olivier Létang has started the hunt for a new manager because negotiations over extending Génésio’s stay have hit a wall. Even though the French coach has pushed the team close to Champions League qualification with just two games to play, he has admitted that renewal talks have gone nowhere. He also revealed that other clubs have contacted him, but his mind is on finishing the season well.
Létang wants a foreign coach, and Motta is at the top of his list. The two men know each other from their days at Paris Saint-Germain, and this friendship could help bring the 42-year-old to the club. Motta’s coaching team also has strong links to France, with assistants Alexandre Hugeux, Simon Colinet and Alfred Dossou-Yovo already working with him.
The former midfielder lost his job at Juventus in March 2025. Since then, Ajax, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fiorentina and Atalanta have all asked about his availability, but none of these talks turned into a solid deal. Sources say Motta wants a project that fits his style of play and his European ambitions. Lille feel they can offer him exactly that.