Former St Etienne boss Elie Baup has been appointed the new coach of Toulouse.
Former St Etienne boss Elie Baup has been appointed the new coach of Toulouse.Baup confirmed earlier this month that he was to quit Les Verts after two seasons in charge and Toulouse saw the tactician as the ideal replacement for Erick Mombaerts.
The French club's chairman Olivier Sadran has since revealed that the two parties agreed a deal some time ago.
"The Elie Baup arrival is something we knew of for several weeks," Sadran admitted.
"We had a pact for a long time and we respected that until Tuesday's signature."
Baup will return to the region where he was born and educated French number one Fabien Barthez.
Rumours had begun to circulate claiming the new boss would try to bring the Marseille goalkeeper to the Municipal, but Baup has rejected the claims.
"Fabien Barthez is a very good friend, but that doesn't mean we will be at the same club," he told L'Equipe. "All that is wild imaginations."
Baup has confirmed his reasons behind his decision to move to Toulouse and is excited to be working with the talent on offer to him.
"What led me to sign are the club's project and the direct contact with only the chairman and major shareholder Olivier Sadran," he added.
"I was used to talking with a number of people. Here the project is exciting and there is only one boss.
"I am linked to the club and the region, the team is young with quality and can improve."
Meanwhile, Toulouse ace Achille Emana is being watched by Premiership side Portsmouth.
Pompey scout Christian Karembeu was in attendance at a friendly between Les Violets and the Tunisian Olympics side, watching the Cameroon international.
However, French Under-21 star Lucien Aubey is expected to stay at the club despite reported interest from Tottenham, Monaco and Marseille.
