French coach Denis Lavagne has taken charge at Vipers SC, with the Uganda Premier League champions turning to the vastly experienced tactician as they seek greater success on the continental stage.
Vipers confirmed Lavagne’s appointment on Tuesday, announcing that the former Cameroon national team coach has signed a two-year contract to replace Ivan Jacky Minnaert, who left the club at the end of the season.
“SUPL champions Vipers SC have appointed highly experienced French tactician Denis Lavagne as the club’s new head coach,” the club said in a statement.
For Vipers, the appointment is about more than defending their league crown. It is also a statement of ambition as the Venoms look to finally make a lasting impression in the CAF Champions League.
Lavagne arrives in Kitende with a wealth of experience gathered from coaching stints in France, Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Algeria, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China.
His finest achievements came at Cameroonian giants Coton Sport, where he built one of the country’s most dominant sides. Under his guidance, Coton Sport won four Elite One titles and three Cameroon Cups, while also reaching the 2008 CAF Champions League final.
That impressive run earned him the Cameroon national team job and established him as one of the continent’s respected coaches.
At Vipers, Lavagne will work alongside long-serving club figure John “Ayala” Luyinda, who remains part of the technical team as first assistant coach.
The club has also appointed Belgian Salmi Yassine as Head of Performance and Fitness coach.
