LILLE, France — Lille coach Rene Girard will leave the French club at the end of the season after a disappointing campaign.
With one match left to play, Lille is eighth in the standings and will finish outside the top six for the first time since 2008 after winning the French title in 2011.
The club says it found an “amicable settlement” with Girard, who is leaving with assistants Gerard Bernardet and Nicolas Girard.
Girard, who joined the northern team two years ago and had one year left on his contract, secured a third-place finish last season. He is likely to be replaced by Herve Renard, who led Ivory Coast to victory in the African Cup of Nations.
Girard led Montpellier to its only league title in 2012.