Short career as a footballer, coach but also director of a training center, Régis Le Bris has had many positions to his credit. At 47, he is a household name in the world of French football even though he has come to the fore this season in the eyes of the general public on the Lorient bench..
A football career stopped at 27
Born on December 6, 1975 in Pont-l’Abbé, Régis Le Bris hit his first balls alongside his brothers. It is with his brother Benoît that he joined the Stade Rennais training center. During his Bretillian training, he was selected for the French youth team with which he played in the Montaigu tournament.
After a classic path to the professional team, he signed his first contract with the Rouge et Noir at 21 years old. The Finistérien does not find his place in the Rennes squad since he has only participated in 34 games in 5 seasons. He then joined Laval in the second division. His Mayenne adventure lasts 3 seasons but he only takes part in 54 meetings. He therefore decides to try the adventure abroad. He signed in Belgium at KSK Ronse (2nd division). After only a few matches, the defender was seriously injured and announced his retirement from sport at the age of 27.
Revelation as a trainer
Although he put away his cleats in 2003, Régis Le Bris did not leave football. He spent a season in the Wasquehal club at the head of the U15s. The following year, he found a place he knew perfectly since he signed up with Stade Rennais to be in charge of the youth teams. With his training club, he won his first trophies, the U18 national championship (2007) and the Gambardella Cup (2008) with in his team, young hopefuls from the training center such as Yann M’Vila, Vincent Pajot or Yacine Brahimi.
Thanks to his work, he was spotted by a certain Christian Gourcuff, who offered him to become the director of the FC Lorient training center. The leg Le Bris was not slow to be felt since he won with the U17, the title of champion of France. In 2015, his good results allowed him to take the reins of the Les Merlus reserve team in place of Franck Haise, his former teammate at Laval and current coach of RC Lens.
Régis Le Bris, an atypical profile
By ending his playing career very early, the Finisterian was able to resume a university course in parallel. Studies carried out brilliantly since he can boast of holding a STAPS doctorate in physiology and biomechanics in 2006. But that’s not all, he also obtained a University Diploma in mental preparation for high-level athletes in 2010.
Régis Le Bris constantly seeks to enrich himself. He goes by his own means to many European training centers such as Liverpool, Betis Seville or Bilbao. The goal ? Understand how referral centers work. He learns through other sports such as swimming or cycling. With the help of Claude Fauquet, former DTN of the French Swimming team, the Lorient coach is implementing participatory methods during his training. A revolutionary approach in football.
Successful first steps in the professional world
Ironically, he led his first Ligue 1 match at Roazhon Park against Stade Rennais (1–0 victory). Despite the departure of Armand Laurienté at the end of the summer transfer window, the Breton technician was able to highlight other elements of his workforce. The emergence of Dango Ouattara, transferred this winter to Bournemouth, is the perfect proof of this.
His team plays a nice game to watch and the results are linked. On the occasion of the first match of the return phase of Ligue 1, FC Lorient hosted Stade Rennais. Another victory for the Lorient coach against his training club. The current 8th place of his team even makes it possible to look higher in the standings while the maintenance is already almost assured.
