Scottish manager appointed head coach of 10-time French champions - 'very high expectations'

The 39-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Ligue 2 outfit after they agreed to a pay a six-figure sum to buy out his contract with Portuguese club Estoril, which ran until 2028.

Cathro replaces Philippe Montanier, who left after failing to secure promotion back to Ligue 1 at the first attempt following a 4-1 aggregate defeat to top-tier side OGC Nice in the play-off final.

Praised for guiding unfancied Estoril to consecutive eighth and 10th place finishes in Portugal's Primeira Liga, Cathro will now be tasked with restoring the reputation of a fallen giant which won 10 French titles between 1956 and 1981.

"I know that AS Saint-Etienne is a unique club, with very high expectations and a special responsibility towards its supporters," Cathro told the club website. "What attracts me here is the opportunity to build something clear: a team that knows what it wants to do, that works with intensity, that helps players progress and that moves forward with courage. There is a lot of energy around this club. Our role will be to transform it into hard work, high standards and progress on the pitch."

Cathro was appointed Hearts manager in December 2016 but was sacked just seven months later after earning just eight victories in 30 games, losing half of his matches. The breaking point arrived when Hearts failed to advance past the group stages of the Scottish League Cup after a 2-1 defeat by League Two side Peterhead and a penalty shootout loss against Dunfermline Athletic.

Cathro rebuilt his reputation working as an assistant under Nuno Espírito Santo at Valencia, Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur. He returned to managing in July 2024 with Estoril where his fluid, attacking 4-3-3 style attracted the attention of clubs across Europe.

Ivan Gazidis, president of St Etienne said: "Ian has forged a unique career path. He doesn't arrive with a conventional trajectory, but with a wealth of experience in coaching, player development, and various football cultures.

"We were particularly impressed by his ability to give a team a clear direction, to help players progress, and to create a demanding working environment. At Estoril, he showed that he could move a club forward with method, identity, and stability. This is precisely what we want to establish at AS Saint-Étienne."