The first words of Eirik Horneland

The Arrival of Eirik Horneland

Huss Fahmy: As you know, we’ve been here for six months now. We’ve used this initial period to listen, observe, and learn. We’re still as happy and enthusiastic as ever to work for this club. Today marks an important step in this project: the arrival of a new coach who will bring a style of play that considers the atmosphere here—the stadium, the city, and the supporters. We often talk about DNA; this DNA must help players become better, gain confidence in themselves. We are very pleased to introduce Eirik because we are confident about what he brings, even though this will be a collective project. We must remain united.

His Decision to Join ASSE

Eirik Horneland: ASSE is a magnificent club with highly engaged supporters who can contribute a lot to lifting their team. I’d like to thank the management for giving me the opportunity to join this project. I am very proud to be part of AS Saint-Étienne. (…) Ligue 1 is a top-level league with very good teams. We are a promoted team experiencing a challenging start to the season, but everything rests on us. We must have a collective desire to create something both in the short and long term.

Huss Fahmy: “We wanted a coach capable of building a strong identity of play, one that aligns with this club and this city.”

Why Him?

Huss Fahmy: Part of our job is to keep track of European football daily. We’ve known Eirik’s work, and we’ve observed him. We wanted a coach capable of building a strong identity of play, one that aligns with this club and this city. He has an offensive style of play, which is developed daily on the training ground, along with the necessary structure to ensure solidity. We trust him. He is the coach we need, but also the man we need.

Loïc Perrin: This identity is what attracted us to Eirik. I’m convinced that it’s what the Stéphanois fans expect in terms of commitment and intensity.

His Vision

Eirik Horneland: First of all, I want discipline. We need a style of play with offensive patterns, but also solid defensive organization. We must be very active on the pitch and bring out the best in each player. Above all, I want a team that plays with intensity because, in my opinion, that best suits this club, this stadium, and its supporters. We want a clear identity so that when people watch ASSE, they see progress and a distinct style. Players must play with the right attitude and mindset, aligned with the values of this city. (…) For me, it’s primarily about creating offensive overloads. I want to bring many players into the opposing box. That’s what people want to see. I also want to design patterns of play that highlight the players and their creativity. The right system allows everyone to perform at their best.

Eirik Horneland: “Our role is to develop this team in the short term to reap long-term benefits.”

The Staff

Eirik Horneland: Hassan El-Fakiri will be joining me; he’s very important to me. He’s been with me for three years, knows my style of play, the aggressiveness I expect, and the intensity I want to see. He also has experience in Ligue 1 from his time as a player with Monaco and speaks French as well. His presence is crucial. When I told him about this project, he was very enthusiastic because he knows the Stéphanois fan base. (…) Today, I met the other members of the staff, and there’s a lot of expertise here. I’m thrilled to rely on the rest of the staff, who have deep knowledge of the club and the league. Throughout the day at the club, I’ve met people who truly have the club in their hearts. I can’t wait to work with them.

Huss Fahmy: Let me add that we speak internally every day. We’re working on evolving the staff with the addition of new profiles to complement the team and delve deeper into details. These changes take time, but there will soon be new departments and recruitments.

The Transfer Market

Loïc Perrin: We’re considering strengthening the team, and discussions have already started with certain players. Do we need experience? We’re not ruling out any profiles. While experience is often discussed, I believe we already have it within this squad. We want to improve the team but also give it an identity.

Challenges in the Coming Days

Eirik Horneland: I haven’t seen the players on the pitch yet, although I’ve had the chance to speak with them. I don’t want to disrupt the preparation for the weekend’s match. After Sunday’s game, they’ll leave for the holidays. Then, starting December 29, we’ll begin working on this structure ahead of our first match in January. I’m eager to get started, but it will be step by step. It will take time, but I hope that by January 4, we’ll already see some changes in attitude. We are fully aware of the current situation—all we need to do is look at the standings. Our role is to develop this team in the short term to reap long-term benefits. It will be a day-to-day effort.