Scottish manager taking French football by storm amid historic start to the season

Ian Cathro has hit the ground running in French football after leading St Etienne to their best ever start to a season.

The former Hearts manager was appointed head coach of the Ligue 2 side in the summer following an impressive two-year stint in Portugal with Estoril with a six-figure fee paid to secure his services.

He has been tasked with restoring the reputation of a fallen giant which won 10 French titles between 1956 and 1981 and reached the 1976 European Cup final, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich at Hampden.

Saint-Etienne head coach Ian Cathro on the touchline at Ibrox during a pre-season friendly match against Rangers. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Cathro has made the perfect start, winning his first five matches in charge to take St Etienne five points clear at the top of the French second tier. The 3-1 home win over Montpellier on Saturday made it the first time in history that Les Verts have started a season with five consecutive victories.

The team has scored 16 goals, conceded four and is being celebrated for the brand of football played under Cathro in front of sold-out crowds at the 42,000-capacity Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

"I'm happy for the players, truly," said the 40-year-old Scot. "It's a fantastic moment for them. Tonight, once again, I feel an immense responsibility. I will do everything I can to help this club, because it's not like any other club. Whether we lose, win, or draw, it will always be the same. That's what I want to say to the fans."

The St Etienne players are also relishing playing under Cathro.

Ben Old, the New Zealand international midfielder, said: "There are a lot of tactical differences between what we did last season and what we're doing this season. Every coach also has their own personality. But I think what's great about this coach is that he's managed to get the best out of each player and really connect us as a group.

"I think we've always had the technical ability to dominate matches. But now we also have the courage and determination to come back in matches where we might not be at our best. Like last week, when we were down 2-1 and managed to come back, or again this week against a tough opponent, to manage to win. I think that's probably the biggest difference.

Ian Cathro on the Tynecastle touchline during his short-lived spell in charge of Hearts.

French full-back Maxime Bernauer added: "There is something special about this team. This is one of the first times since I started playing football that I've felt this way."

Cathro, who oversaw a 2-1 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox in a pre-season, is enjoying a renaissance in the dugout nearly a decade after his maiden managerial role at Hearts turned into a disaster.

Appointed in December 2016 at the age of just 30, he was sacked 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 management in July 2024 with Estoril where his fluid, attacking 4-3-3 style attracted plaudits before St Etienne made their move.