Long-serving Galtier to quit as Saint-Etienne coach

Galtier, who sports daily L'Equipe said announced the news to his players on Tuesday morning, will walk away at the end of the season.

"Today is not a good day for me with the feared news that Christophe Galtier is to quit as coach," Bernard Caiazzo, president of the Saint-Etienne club council, told AFP.

L'Equipe reported at the start of last week that Galtier was set to quit, although neither he nor the club confirmed the news until today.

The 50-year-old will depart despite having a year still to run on his contract.

"After so many years together, this departure was unavoidable either this season or next," said Caiazzo.

The longest-serving coach in France's top flight, Galtier initially came to Saint-Etienne as assistant to Alain Perrin in 2008 but became coach when Perrin was sacked in December 2009.

Under him, Saint-Etienne, the record 10-time French champions, won the League Cup in 2013, ending a trophy drought of more than three decades.

They have also qualified for Europe in each of the last four seasons, but are almost certain to miss out on Europe next season. They currently sit seventh in Ligue 1 with three games left.