Boloni named new Lens coach
LENS, France, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Laszlo Boloni was named coach of struggling Racing Lens in place of Jean-Guy Wallemme, club president Gervais Martel said on Sunday.
Wallemme told officials he wanted to step down after the last game before the winter break against Bordeaux, Martel said in a statement.
"Laszlo Boloni's mission is to keep the team in Ligue 1. We need to focus on avoiding relegation," he told a press conference."Jean-Guy told me he was no longer able to give new impetus."
Boloni, 57, is a former Romania international. He has coached French clubs AS Nancy, Stade Rennes and Monaco and Belgium's Standard Liege.
Wallemme, a former Lens player, had been coach since 2008. He helped the Northerners reach the top flight in his first year and saved them from relegation last season. Lens are 19th in the 20-team standings on 16 points.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

‘He instantly popped into our ratings as one of the best U21 midfielders in Europe. The impressive thing is Slot has made him into more of a no.6' Inside Ryan Gravenberch's transformation at Liverpool

‘I don’t think Liverpool would look at Ollie Watkins, a striker isn’t a pressing issue for them – it’s Arsenal who need one’ Former Reds star explains why his old club don’t need an out-and-out forward this summer