Ian Cathro, new coach of AS Saint-Étienne

AS Saint-Étienne and Ian Cathro are pleased to announce their agreement. The contract signed with the Scottish coach will keep him at the helm of Les Verts through 2028.

Ian Cathro will bring his international experience, strong focus on player development, and high standards in daily training to the team, with the goal of helping to build a clear, ambitious playing identity that meets ASSE’s expectations.

Born in Dundee, Scotland, Ian Cathro turned to coaching at a very young age. After a playing career cut short by injury, he founded his own training facility, the Cathro Clinic, while still a teenager, with an approach focused on technical development, creativity, and the individual progress of players.

His career quickly took on an international dimension. After working in the youth academy at Dundee United, he moved to Portugal and joined Nuno Espírito Santo’s coaching staff at Rio Ave, leading the team to the finals of both the Portuguese Cup and the League Cup in the same season and qualifying them for their very first European campaign. This initial experience marked the beginning of his international career.

In Valencia, Ian Cathro was part of Nuno Espírito Santo’s coaching staff during a successful season that culminated in a fourth-place finish in La Liga and qualification for the Champions League. He then experienced the demands of English soccer at Newcastle United, where he worked under Steve McClaren and later Rafael Benítez, before reuniting with Nuno Espírito Santo at Wolverhampton Wanderers and then at Tottenham Hotspur, and continuing his international career with a stint at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Through his journey, Ian Cathro has developed an international work ethic, in different leagues, coaching staffs, and locker rooms. He has notably worked with top-tier players such as Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kanté.

Appointed head coach of Estoril in the summer of 2024, Ian Cathro has proven his worth as a top-tier coach in the Portuguese league. At the helm of a club accustomed to languishing at the bottom of the standings, he has built a more stable, proactive, and recognizable team. Estoril finished 8th in the Primeira Liga during his first season, then 10th the following season, securing two consecutive top-10 finishes in Portugal.

This recent experience, combined with his background in several European and international leagues, gives Ian Cathro a unique profile: that of a young coach who has already faced demanding environments, been trained on the field, is committed to player development, and is driven by a clear and ambitious playing philosophy.

Ian Cathro will lead his first training session when the professional squad returns to action on July 1. He will be introduced to the press at that time.

AS Saint-Étienne would like to thank Philippe Montanier for his time at the helm of the first team and wishes him every success in his future career.

Ian Cathro, AS Saint-Étienne’s new head coach: “I know that AS Saint-Étienne is a club in a class of its own, with very high expectations and a special responsibility toward its fans. 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 improve, and that moves forward with courage. There’s a lot of energy surrounding this club. Our role will be to channel that energy into hard work, high standards, and progress on the field." 

Ivan Gazidis, AS Saint-Étienne' Président : "Ian has carved out a unique career path. He doesn’t come from a conventional background, but he brings a wealth of experience in coaching, player development, and various soccer cultures. We were particularly impressed by his ability to provide clear direction to a team, help players improve, and create a demanding work environment. At Estoril, he demonstrated that he could move a club forward with a systematic approach, a distinct identity, and stability. That is precisely what we want to establish at AS Saint-Étienne."