Vipers SC appoint French coach Denis Lavagne on two-year deal

Reigning Uganda Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC have appointed experienced French coach Denis Lavagne as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

Lavagne, 61, replaces Belgian tactician Ivan Minnaert, who parted ways with the club despite guiding the Venoms to the 2025/26 UPL title. The club cited underwhelming performances as the reason for his departure.

The Frenchman arrives at St. Mary's Stadium, Kitende, with nearly three decades of coaching experience across Europe, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

During his career, he has managed both club sides and national teams, earning a reputation as one of the continent's seasoned football tacticians.

Lavagne made his mark in African football during two successful spells with Cameroonian giants Coton Sport. He guided the club to four Elite One league titles, three Cameroon Cup triumphs and a runners-up finish in the 2008 CAF Champions League.

His success at club level earned him the role of head coach of the Cameroon national team. He has since managed several prominent clubs, including Etoile du Sahel, Al Ittihad Alexandria, Smouha SC, MAS Fez, Free State Stars, Al-Hilal Omdurman, CS Constantine, JS Kabylie, USM Alger, Azam FC and clubs in Saudi Arabia.

At Vipers, Lavagne will be assisted by John Luyinda, who retains his position as first-team assistant coach, providing continuity and local experience within the technical setup.

The club has also strengthened its backroom staff with the appointment of Belgian performance specialist Salmi Yassine as Head of Performance and Fitness. Yassine is expected to enhance the team's physical conditioning through modern sports science methods.

Lavagne's immediate objectives will be to defend the UPL title, reclaim the Stanbic Uganda Cup and guide Vipers into the group stage of the CAF Champions League for next season.