Former Ivory Coast international Serge Aurier has returned to RC Lens, this time taking his first steps into coaching with the French club’s youth set-up.
The 33-year-old, who developed through Lens’ La Gaillette academy before launching a professional career spanning more than 400 appearances, has joined the club’s Under-15 coaching staff as an assistant.
Lens confirmed the appointment as Aurier begins a new chapter in football after years at senior level.
His return to the club represents a homecoming for a player who was developed at La Gaillette and went on to establish himself across some of Europe’s leading leagues.
“Between training and passing on the torch. A pure product of the Gaillette academy, boasting over 400 professional appearances, Serge Aurier returns to La Gaillette Gervais Martel. The former Ivory Coast international will share his experience with the U15s as assistant coach,” the French club announced.
Aurier’s new role will see him work closely with young players at the beginning of their footballing journeys.
His responsibility will include sharing lessons from a career that took him from the Lens academy to the highest levels of the professional game.
For the former Ivory Coast defender, the move marks a return to the environment where his development began.
Rather than competing on the pitch, he will now focus on helping the next generation of Lens players improve and understand the demands of professional football.
Aurier joined Lens’ academy as a young player and progressed through the club before making his senior breakthrough.
His career subsequently took him beyond France, where he gained experience in several European competitions and represented Ivory Coast at international level.
His decision to return to Lens in a coaching capacity adds another dimension to his relationship with the club.
Having experienced the transition from academy football to the professional game himself, Aurier will now have the opportunity to help young players navigate a similar pathway.
Lens’ Under-15 squad will therefore benefit from the presence of a former top-level international defender as part of its coaching structure.
Aurier’s experience of playing at elite level could provide valuable insight for the young defenders and other members of the squad.
The appointment also highlights the club’s decision to involve one of its former academy products in the development of its next generation.
Aurier’s career included more than 400 professional appearances, while his time with Ivory Coast gave him experience on the international stage.
He is now bringing that knowledge back to the club where his football education began.
