Walid Regragui has turned down several Ligue 1 offers, with Paris FC the most concrete option before the club chose Liam Rosenior instead.
In media appearances, Regragui confirmed that multiple Ligue 1 sides had contacted him about a coaching position, but that none of these discussions led to an agreement.
According to him, the offers received were “less interesting” when measured against other options on the table, particularly regarding sporting project and structural planning. He explained that his priority is an ambitious club project, one offering clear guarantees on resources and medium-term vision rather than simply a vacant post. Regragui has never coached a club side in Ligue 1, meaning any move to France’s top flight would represent a first at this level for him. Regragui has built a reputation that made him an attractive target for several French clubs.
Among the clubs that emerged as a concrete option was Paris FC. The club, which had been considering the future of Antoine Kombouaré despite his contract running until 2027, organized several meetings with Regragui to present its project. These discussions were described as advanced and aimed at defining a potential framework for his arrival.
Reports suggested mutual interest, with Paris FC’s leadership appreciating his profile and Regragui reportedly impressed by the technical and institutional aspects of what was presented to him.
Despite this apparent alignment, Paris FC’s recruitment process ultimately favored Liam Rosenior, the former Strasbourg coach who has also worked at Chelsea. Rosenior was described as the clear front-runner in the club’s internal hierarchy, even though talks with Regragui had reportedly gone well.
Some media outlets noted that the technical side of a potential deal with Regragui had been validated before Paris FC’s leadership shifted course, a turn of events described in some reports as unexpected.
Regragui has since indicated that, in the case of Paris FC, the decision not to proceed came from the club rather than from him.
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