Lyon appoint Remi Garde as new coach

(GETTY IMAGES)

Former Lyon and Arsenal player Remi Garde will succeed Claude Puel as Lyon's new coach.

The club said Garde, who currently heads Lyon's youth academy, will be officially presented later Wednesday.

The seven-time French champion fired Puel earlier this week, ending the coach's disappointing three-year tenure at the club.

Lyon reached the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 2010 but hasn't won a trophy since Puel took over from Alain Perrin, who led Lyon to the league and French Cup double in 2007-08.

The 45-year-old Garde started his career with Lyon where he played nine years before joining Strasbourg then Arsenal. He returned to the club in 2003 as a staff member.