RC Lens banks on Eddie Howe, a Premier League success, for the Sang et Or

In the stands of the Bollaert stadium, the atmosphere was electric as RC Lens, nicknamed the Blood and Gold, looked to bounce back after the defeat against Sporting. Rumours surrounding Bruno Genesio quickly gave way to a new lead: a Premier League manager could take charge.

Rumours around the manager's position

After speculation about Bruno Genesio's departure, the English press linked a Premier League manager to the RC Lens bench. According to TEAMtalk, the club had approached Eddie Howe's entourage last month, following the split with Dino Toppmöller.

Eddie Howe, forty‑eight years old, has been free since his departure from Newcastle during the summer. His spell at Newcastle, after Bournemouth, earned him a solid reputation in England, where he is regarded as capable of building a sustainable project.

However, the coach's entourage reportedly deemed the Lens offer unsuitable for his ambitions, preferring to wait for a project more aligned with his goals. RC Lens therefore failed to convince him, as confirmed by TEAMtalk's tweet of October 13, 2026.

Cahuzac gets waiver to coach Lens in Champions against Sporting

Cahuzac takes over

Facing this setback, the club promoted Yannick Cahuzac, until then a member of the staff, to preserve internal continuity after the hasty departure of Dino Toppmöller. This decision was made after only a few matches under Toppmöller, marked by disagreements over staff operations and group organisation.

RC Lens hoped to continue its European momentum after its success in Prague against Slavia (3‑2). However, against Sporting, the Blood and Gold fell despite a proactive start. Luis Suárez opened the scoring for the Portuguese, before Issa Doumbia sealed the victory in the second half.

This defeat puts Cahuzac under additional pressure: he must now balance the demands of the domestic league with those of the Champions League, while managing a demanding European calendar.

Lens chase third straight win over Sporting in Champions League

The Eddie Howe scenario remains a topic of debate among supporters, who wonder whether a manager recognised in the Premier League would have provided more guarantees. In the absence of a concrete outcome, Racing no longer has time to linger on aborted leads and must focus on reviving its squad.