Gérard Fernandez leaves AS Saint-Étienne after several decades serving the Greens

Gérard Fernandez is leaving AS Saint-Étienne, ending several decades of service to the Forez club. At 78 years old, the man who held numerous roles within the Greens — first-team assistant, coach, then head of scouting — is preparing to hand over the reins in the coming weeks.

Fernandez accompanied several generations of young players and contributed to the emergence of many Saint-Étienne talents. His departure comes amid a profound internal restructuring undertaken by the club’s new management, which is making multiple changes in the academy and recruitment sectors.

To succeed him, AS Saint-Étienne is banking on an unprecedented pairing. Sacha Esteves, arriving from Real Sociedad, takes charge of post-academy development with a mission to support young players in the final stages of their progression toward professional football. Guillaume Leleu, who previously worked at Lille and Brentford and held this position until now, is given an expanded role: he will lead the academy’s recruitment. The two men will work under the responsibility of Laurent Huard.

These changes, reported by Peuple Vert, illustrate the new Saint-Étienne management’s desire to modernize its structure and better organize work around the most promising talents. Gérard Fernandez’s departure nonetheless closes an important chapter in the club’s history.