Saint-Etienne appoint Scot Cathro as head coach

Saint-Etienne appoint Scot Cathro as head coachImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ian Cathro guided Estoril to two top-10 finishes in Portugal's Primeira LigaPublished2 minutes agoScot Ian Cathro has been appointed head coach of Ligue 2 side Saint-Etienne after two successful years in Portugal with Estoril.The former Heart of Midlothian head coach has signed a contract until 2028 and is tasked with guiding the sleeping giant back to France's top flight.The 10-time French champions were relegated to Ligue 2 in the 2024-25 season and lost in last season's play-off final against Nice. Previous boss Philippe Montanier left the club after his short-term deal expired."I know that AS Saint-Etienne is a unique club, with very high expectations and a special responsibility towards its supporters," Cathro said. "What attracts me here is the opportunity to build something clear: a team that knows what it wants to do, that works with intensity, that helps players progress and that moves forward with courage. "There is a lot of energy around this club. Our role will be to transform it into hard work, high standards and progress on the pitch."From Hearts failure to Estoril excitement - the 'most Portuguese Scot there is'Published27 FebruaryCathro, 39, started his coaching journey in his home city Dundee - nurturing the likes of Ryan Gauld and John Souttar in Dundee United's academy - before moving to Portugal to become Nuno Espirito Santo's assistant at Rio Ave.He would follow Nuno to Valencia, before working under Steve McLaren and Rafael Benitez at Newcastle United.Then came his ill-fated seven-month stint with Hearts in 2017, which ended after he failed to get out of the League Cup group stages. However, he put that experience behind him - again linking up with Nuno at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Al-Ittihad.Cathro returned as a head coach with Estoril in the summer of 2024, guiding them to an...