BREAKING: Lille Appoints Paulo Fonseca As New Manager.

 Paulo Fonseca has signed a contract with French Ligue 1 team Lille, marking his comeback to football after a break of just over a year.

Fonseca, the former manager of Porto, has been without a team since leaving Roma at the end of the previous campaign. At the conclusion of the 2020–21 season, Lille, the French champion from last May, has signed the Portuguese to a two-year contract.

"It gives me enormous satisfaction and honor to be the next coach of LOSC." said Fonseca. I am aware that joining this prestigious French club with its remarkable track record and rich history comes with a lot of responsibilities. So, I'm excited to start this experience with LOSC and looking forward to working with the team and players.

"Above all, I am very driven and committed to making sure that we will work as a team to accomplish the goals set and elevate the club and the group to the highest level. 

I appreciate the trust shown to me by LOSC's leaders. I am eager to meet the Lille fans in this great stadium and immediately extend my gratitude for their gracious welcome. Come on Dogues!

Lille has emphasized Fonseca's reputation for an appealing brand of football, branding him as a "football aesthete" on social media. With José Fonte now acting as club captain, Renato Sanches, Tiago Djaló, and Xeka on the roster, with Rafael Leo being a prominent character at Lille before joining AC Milan in 2019, the French Flanders club has a strong recent legacy of Portuguese involvement.

Several members of the Luso staff will follow Fonseca, including assistant coach Tiago Leal, fitness coach Paulo Mouro, and goalkeeper coach António Ferreira. Jorge Maciel will stay on to help the new manager.

Last season, Lille had a dismal campaign and finished in 10th place as the defending champions. The high-profile transfer of defender Sven Botman to Newcastle and persistent rumors that Renato Sanches may join AC Milan coincide with Fonseca's arrival.