Antonetti announces Rennes departure

RENNES, France (AFP) –

Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti pictured during a league match against PSG in Rennes, western France on April 6, 2013

Rennes’ French head coach Frederic Antonetti pictured during the French L1 match against Paris Saint-Germain at the Route de Lorient stadium in Rennes, western France on April 6, 2013. Antonetti said Tuesday he will leave the Brittany club at the end of the season when his current four-year deal runs out.

Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti said Tuesday he will leave the Brittany club at the end of the season when his current four-year deal runs out.

The 51-year-old’s announcement comes just a few days after his side lost the French League Cup final to Saint-Etienne.

“After four great years my adventure with Stade Rennais FC will come to an end. I have, in effect, decided to leave the club, in part due to this difficult end to the season,” Antonetti said in a statement published on the club’s website staderennais.com.

Having initially shown promise at the beginning of the season that they could challenge for Champions League qualification, Rennes have collapsed over the last couple of months.

They have not won a game since February 10 and on Saturday saw their hopes of a first trophy since 1971 disappear in a 1-0 reverse at the Stade de France.