RC Lens have announced the departure of women’s team manager Sarah M’Barek, the club confirmed on Monday. The decision ends a six-year association between M’Barek and the club, but the manner of the announcement has drawn criticism. M’Barek reportedly learned of her dismissal through the club’s social media channels.
In a story posted to her Instagram account, M’Barek reshared a post from RC Lens announcing the change, adding the caption “Surprise, as I was not officially informed…” This public response highlights a perceived lack of respect from the club towards the manager who guided the team to promotion to the first division for the first time in their history ahead of the 2024-2025 season.
This past season saw Lens finish in 11th place in Ligue 1 Féminin, which is believed to have contributed to the decision to relieve M’Barek of her duties. Despite the recent struggles, the circumstances surrounding the announcement have sparked debate amongst supporters and observers of the women’s game.
M’Barek took charge of Lens in 2020 and oversaw a period of growth for the club, culminating in their historic promotion. The club has not yet announced a replacement for the departing manager, leaving uncertainty surrounding the future direction of the women’s team. The unexpected nature of the dismissal and the way it was communicated are likely to be points of discussion as Lens search for a new head coach.
