Who is Franck Haise? The Liverpool-linked mastermind who rebuilt RC Lens

RC Lens were a club in the wilderness. One of France’s most passionately supported institutions, the Blood and Gold had been languishing in Ligue 2 for five years.

A club with historic, working-class roots and a clear sense of identification with the local coal mining industry, the club had been a point of pride for those in a less than salubrious northern city.

In February 2020 their manager Philippe Montanier was dismissed from his position with the club sitting third in the second division and their promotion hopes wobbling. Into the breach stepped Franck Haise, who had been reserve coach for the past three years.

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He won his opening two fixtures, propelling Lens back to the top two and then the Covid-19 enforced shutdown meant the French league seasons were called to an early halt. Just like that, Lens were back in the promised land.

Haise was given a fresh two-year contract when he formalised his coaching qualifications and the club haven’t looked back.

They are back among the most well-established teams in the top flight, taking scalps like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Sevilla along the way.

Lens’ incredible Ligue 1 achievements

Since being promoted Lens have never finished lower than seventh in Ligue 1, and are again fighting for European football this term. This season might have started poorly with Lens winning none of their first five fixtures but they have since realigned their campaign.

Last season they finished second, a single point behind the Parisian billionaires, perhaps the biggest achievement in any of Europe’s top-five leagues given the disparity in resources. For that he was rightly given the league’s coach of the year award.

Lens had not been in the Champions League for 20 years and yet his unfancied outsiders went toe to toe with the cream of Europe, defeating Arsenal and putting Sevilla out of Europe all together.

Their European adventure ultimately ended disappointingly, with elimination against Freiburg in the Europa League knockout playoff rounds, but the fact they are there at all is testament to Haise’s work.

Haise improves players - Openda, Fofana, Doucoure

Haise has also developed a reputation as a man who improves players with the likes of Lois Openda, Seko Fofana, academy jewel Chiekh Doucoure and Loic Bade all being sold on for massive profits.

And, despite the enforced sales, Haise continues to work wonders with the resources at his disposal.

Plenty of the squad-building credit must go to former sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, since spirited away to OGC Nice, but Haise has managed to turn players like Jonathan Clauss, now of Marseille, and ex-Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba into France internationals while Ligue 2 journeymen like Jonathan Gradit and Florin Sotoca are now firmly established in the top flight.

Midfielders Abdul Samed and Andy Diouf look set to be the next departure for a big-name club, and Angelo Fulgini has got plenty of admirers, while Kevin Danso (Austria) and Facundo Medina (Argentina) have also come into the international reckoning under Haise.

There have also been bargain signings like Przemysław Frankowski, picked up for €2m from Chicago Fire, who have gone on to be consistent performers in the league and Champions League alike.

Haise’s career to date

His ability to work within a recruitment structure with an eye on the bottom line will certainly appeal to certain clubs tracking his progress.

Haise was an unremarkable player, carving out an unfussy career with teams like Rouen, Stade Lavellois and Angers, before turning his hand to coaching.

He had six years in the Rennes academy before moving to Lorient as reserve-team coach, then assistant, before his move to Lens.

The soon-to-be 54-year-old even had a go at taking on the club’s general manager role, as well as head coach when his contract renewal was announced back in 2022.

He has since given up that role owing to stress, but remains as keen as ever to lead the club from the sidelines and is under contract until 2027.

However, that term could well be curtailed early with Liverpool known to be watching and Brighton, Marseille and Rennes all making attempts to sign him previously.

What tactics does Franck Haise use?

Tactically, Haise unfailingly sets up in a 3-4-2-1 with Abdul Samed responsible for picking the ball up deep in midfield. The widest centre backs, meanwhile, are also tasked with bringing the ball forward.

Depending on the style or calibre of opposition, Lens will either operate with a split striker system with one in behind or else with two attacking midfielders behind a lone frontman like Elye Wahi.

They present with a solid defensive shape out of possession and do not jump into a high press, preferring containment.

Haise’s approach is adaptable, and they will play deeper against bigger teams, witness their famous Champions League win against Arsenal for evidence of that, but their threat usually revolves around crossing, or cut-backs, from the flanks.

They like to circulate the ball in deeper positions patiently, waiting for an opportunity to pierce the opposition with a through ball to the support strikers or else down the sides, where wing backs have plenty of responsibility defensively and offensively.

He has constructed an honest, hard-working and close-knit squad who share the big moments with the fans; they understand what it takes to impress the Stade Bollaert crowd.

Which club would Franck Haise suit?

Although his work has been compared to that of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, it also has plenty in common with Bill Shankly at Liverpool, if you look into their initial progress under his watch.

And that’s one reason why those recent links to Anfield make abundant sense despite Haise not being a household name.

Because if you’re looking for someone in the Klopp mould, who can coach a team and inspire an entire city, then you won’t have to look further than Franck Haise.