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France: Santini looking to rebuild his reputation at Auxerre [Wed Jul 27th, 2005]
Paris (Reuters) - After France's failure at Euro 2004 and a brief, painful spell at Tottenham Hotspur, coach Jacques Santini will try to re-establish his coaching reputation at AJ Auxerre this season.
He has a tough act to follow, taking over from Guy Roux -- the man who shaped the club for 44 years.
In many ways though it is a perfect match. It gives Santini a chance to escape his recent failures -- and gives Auxerre the chance to revitalise themselves under a man who has reached the heights in France in the past.
Santini, 53, in charge of France from 2002 to 2004, was jobless after leaving Tottenham Hotspur last November, after only 13 matches in charge of the English Premier League club.
The retirement of Guy Roux, 66, on the day after Auxerre cliched their fourth domestic Cup in May, left room for Santini to return to a coaching position.
And he already appears far happier back in France than he was in London, where he struggled with the language and the immense task of re-establishing long-slumbering Tottenham among the elite of English clubs.
In the end it all proved too much and he was gone almost before he had time to unpack his suitcase. Auxerre should provide him with a far more stable launchpad to success in one form or another.
However, Santini, assisted by Dominique Cuperly, his deputy at both Olympique Lyon and Tottenham, will have to deal with the departure of Bonaventure Kalou, arguably Auxerre's best player last season.
"We now have to buy a player with the same profile, but it's going to be expensive, or two forwards," he said.
Winner of four titles and two cups as a player with St Etienne, Santini played in the 1976 European Cup final defeat by Bayern Munich in Glasgow.
He then coached Ligue 1 sides Toulouse, Lille, St Etienne, Sochaux and Lyon before he replaced Roger Lemerre after France's failure at the 2002 World Cup.
He helped Olympique Lyon clinch the League Cup in 2001 and led them to their first title in 2002 before he stepped down and was replaced by Paul Le Guen.
Under Santini France, European champions in 2000, fell to Greece in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
At Auxerre, Santini is facing a tough task in replacing Roux, who shaped the club he worked with for 44 years, taking it to the forefront of French football.
"It is not possible to shake off everything that has been done during all those years," says Santini. "However, I have my own ideas and will try to make some slight changes."
Under Roux, Auxerre won four French Cups and clinched the title in 1996, reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League the following year.
But as usual, Auxerre will start the season with one goal: to avoid relegation, which was Roux's mantra.
"Of course, that is what we'll try to do," said Santini.
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