Spanish coach Pablo Franco has officially taken charge of Espérance Sportive de Tunis, arriving in Tunisia to succeed Laurentiu Reghecampf. Franco signed a contract running through June 2027 and immediately barred fans from a weekend friendly to focus his squad ahead of upcoming domestic and continental fixtures.
After finalizing his paperwork, Franco held initial meetings with the players, his coaching staff, and senior club figures as detailed by sports desk coverage. His arrival follows the abrupt departure of Romanian coach Laurentiu Reghecampf, who left the club to take over Steaua Bucharest.
Franco Signs Contract Through June 2027 with Coaching Staff
Franco put pen to paper on an electronic agreement before arriving in Tunis as regional sports outlets noted, committing to a deal that extends until June 2027 with an option for an additional season based on specialized sources. He assumes leadership of a technical staff that includes Spanish assistant coach Van den Brule and local coach Majdi Traoui according to team briefings.
The new manager also consulted with general football supervisor Chokri El Ouaer and technical director Joel Crahay as reported by regional media. Crahay had steered the squad through the interim period following Reghecampf’s departure, a span in which the club managed three wins and one defeat across four league outings Closed-Door Friendly Decision Generates Debate
Franco’s very first tactical choice sparked discussion among supporters. He ordered that a preparatory friendly match against the Libyan side Military Union—scheduled to take place as part of weekend training—be played behind closed doors without spectators. The club confirmed the measure in an official statement, explaining that the closed session was designed to give the technical staff an undisturbed environment to assess the squad as outlet reporting outlined. While management emphasized the need for tactical focus, the decision left many fans disappointed at being barred from witnessing the team’s initial performance under its new leadership according to fan community reactions. Espérance currently holds second place in the domestic league standings with nine points after four rounds, sitting level on points with leaders Club Africain based on league data. Franco faces an immediate baptism of fire when competitive action resumes. The team hosts Olympique de Béja on October 10 at the Stade Olympique de Rades for the fifth round of the domestic championship according to the match schedule. Shortly after, the squad travels to face Libya’s Al-Swehly SC on October 16 in Misrata for the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, before hosting the return leg in Tunis on October 24 as outlined by tournament organizers.
Upcoming Fixtures in Domestic and Continental Play
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