Soccer-Ex-Senegal international Mbaye Leye named as Standard Liege coach

© Reuters.

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Belgium's Standard Liege on Wednesday
named Senegalese Mbaye Leye as their new coach in a major
breakthrough for Africans seeking opportunity at top clubs in
Europe.
The 38-year-old, who previously played at the club and
worked as an assistant coach, takes over from Philippe
Montanier. He has signed a deal to the end of the 2020-21
campaign, the club said in a brief statement.
Leye, who won three caps for Senegal in 2008, moved from
west Africa as a teenager to play in France but spent most of
his career in Belgium, eventually retiring two seasons ago.
The former striker was hired to work under Michel
Preud'homme at Standard with a view to eventually taking over as
coach. However, when Preud'homme left earlier than expected in
June, club management hesitated to promote Leye and chose former
France under-20 coach Montanier instead.
But Montanier was fired at the weekend after 28 games in
charge with Standard in 11th place in the first division
standings. They will be seeking to end a run of four successive
defeats when they play their next game at home to Waasland
Beveren on Jan. 11.
Leye is only the third African international to have coached
a top division club in Europe.
Angolan international Lito Vidigal has had a fruitful career
in Portugal, taking charge of clubs like Belenenses, Boavista,
Vitoria Setubal and, until the start of this month, Maritimo. He
also worked at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and in Cyprus.
Last season, ex-Nigeria goalkeeper Ndubuisi Egbo took KF
Tirana to the title in Albania and a place in the early rounds
of this season's Champions League.
Other higher profile African internationals to have flirted
with top jobs include Nigerian midfielder international Sunday
Oliseh, who had Fortuna Sittard top of the Dutch second division
in early 2018 but then abruptly left after a fall out with
management.
Omar Daf, who played full back for Senegal at the 2002 World
Cup, is coach of French Ligue 2 club Sochaux.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian
Radnedge)