Paulo Fonseca has made his return to football after a little over a year out of the game by signing a contract with French Ligue 1 side Lille.
Former Porto boss Fonseca has been without a club since leaving Roma at the end of last season. The Portuguese has signed a two-year contract with Lille, who won the French championship last May at the end of the 2020-21 season.
“Becoming the new coach of LOSC is a source of pride and a great honour for me.” Fonseca said. “I am aware that having been chosen to join this great French club, with its rich history and impressive track record, also gives me a great responsibility. I am therefore happy to begin this adventure with LOSC and eager to get to work with the staff and the players.
“Above all, I am extremely motivated and determined to ensure that together, collectively, we will achieve the objectives set and take the club and the group to the highest level. I thank the leaders of LOSC for their confidence. I am also looking forward to meeting the Lille supporters in this magnificent stadium, and thank them already for their warm welcome. Allez les Dogues!”
Lille have made much of Fonseca’s reputation for an attractive style of play, describing their new coach as a “football aesthete” on their social media. The French Flanders club have a strong recent tradition of Portuguese involvement, with José Fonte currently serving as club captain and Renato Sanches, Tiago Djaló and Xeka on the books, while Rafael Leão was a high-profile figure at Lille ahead of joining AC Milan in 2019.
Fonseca is to bring several staff with him, including assistant coach Tiago Leal, fitness coach Paulo Mourão and goalkeeper coach António Ferreira, while another current Luso staff member, Jorge Maciel, will remain to assist the new manager.
Lille endured a disappointing campaign last term, ending the season in 10th place as outgoing champions. Fonseca arrives in the midst of defender Sven Botman’s big-money sale to Newcastle and ongoing rumours of Renato Sanches leaving for AC Milan.
2023 update: Paulo Fonseca’s rollercoaster first season at Lille
Paulo Fonseca experienced a mixed first season at Lille after joining on a free transfer in June 2022, post-Roma exit. He steered Lille to the UEFA Europa League round of 16, improving their league position from 10th to 6th, although they remained distanced from title contention or Champions League spots.
Fonseca’s tenure saw criticism for defensive weaknesses and inconsistency against top Ligue 1 teams. Amidst the football whirlpool, Fonseca has been rumoured to enjoy a leisurely game at an online casino, akin to many in the football world seeking a relaxed diversion. While expressing regret over missed Tottenham Hotspur managerial opportunity in 2021, he confirmed rejecting 2023 offers from Marseille and Al-Hilal, staying loyal to Lille.
His second season at Lille started well although a notable setback was a shock defeat to Reims on 26 September 2023. Despite showcasing genuine coaching quality and potential, Fonseca faced adaptation challenges in the French league and squad limitations in his first campaign, and improved results will be needed in the upcoming season to maintain his standing and further enhance his reputation at Lille.
By Sean Gillen
