Stade Lavallois have announced the appointment of David Vignes as their new manager, with the Frenchman signing a three-year contract with the Ligue 2 club. The news comes following the departure of Olivier Frapolli, who has joined Grenoble Foot 38 on a two-year deal.
Vignes arrives at Lavallois after a successful spell with FC Fleury, where he guided the club to a fourth-place finish in the National division – the third tier of French football – despite having only the 14th largest budget in the league. His coaching career began after ending his playing days with Pau, before serving as an assistant coach at Cercle Brugge between 2018 and 2019. He joined Fleury in 2023 and quickly established himself as a promising managerial talent.
Lavallois narrowly avoided relegation from Ligue 2 last season, finishing in a play-off position. The appointment of Vignes is seen as a move to stabilise the club and build for a more secure future in the second tier. The club will be hoping he can replicate the success he achieved at Fleury, where he demonstrated an ability to overperform expectations with limited resources.
Grenoble Foot 38, meanwhile, have also bolstered their squad with the signing of Yohann Magnin, a 28-year-old midfielder with 93 Ligue 1 appearances for Clermont Foot, from CSKA 1948 of Bulgaria. The managerial and player movements across Ligue 2 suggest a busy off-season for many clubs as they prepare for the upcoming campaign. Vignes’ arrival signifies Lavallois’ intent to build a competitive side and move away from the relegation battle of the previous season.
