What Charlie Austin has said to Julien Stephan as new QPR era begins | OneFootball

QPR have confirmed the appointment of Julien Stéphan as their latest manager

Charlie Austin has wished Julien Stéphan the best of luck following confirmation of his appointment at QPR.

The London outfit have announced the Frenchman’s arrival after a protracted hiring process, with the club now able to turn their attention to planning for next season.

Stéphan has arrived as a replacement for Martí Cifuentes, who departed Loftus Road in the closing stages of the previous campaign.

The Spaniard was a popular figure among supporters prior to his exit, having guided the team away from relegation in 2024, before leading them to 15th in the table last season.

However, it will now be up to Stéphan to pursue an improvement on that 15th place finish going into the upcoming campaign.

Charlie Austin reacts to Julien Stephan appointment at QPR

Austin has wished the new QPR manager good luck following the announcement of his arrival as Cifuentes’ replacement.

The former Hoops striker will be watching the team now as a fan, and hoping that the Frenchman can bring the club into an upwards trajectory.

“Good luck Julien,” wrote Austin, via his personal X account.

“I’m a fan now mate just like the rest of the Rssss,” he continued, in response to a supporter asking him to come back for one last hurrah.

Stéphan will now be planning for his players as they return for pre-season, with the club set to head off on a training camp to Girona at the start of July.

The Championship side confirmed earlier this summer that they will be returning to Spain, the site of their training camp last year, as they prepare for the new campaign.

The QPR squad will fly out on 9 July, and will face French side Toulouse during their time on the continent.

They will return to London after less than two weeks away, with other pre-season friendlies lined up against both SC Heerenveen and Brentford.

Julien Stephan’s coaching career

Stéphan’s managerial career began in France, with the 44-year-old initially working with the Rennes B squad, joining the side in July 2015, seven years after he hung up his boots.

The coach spent just over three years in the role before stepping up to the main Rennes side in December 2018.

Stéphan oversaw 110 games during that time, before resigning in March 2021 following a poor run of form.

He remained in France with his next managerial role, taking charge of Strasbourg in July of that year.

However, Stéphan was sacked with the team in danger of relegation from Ligue 1 in 2023, having previously led the club to a sixth place finish in the prior campaign.

The Frenchman returned to Rennes in November 2023, where he lasted almost exactly one year, before departing again after another 41 games in charge.

The QPR appointment will be his first foray into English football, having only worked in France up to this point.

The London outfit will be hoping he can make an immediate impact and improve the team’s standing in the division after they finished 15th in the table last season.