Who is Pablo Franco, the candidate to lead Esperance Tunis?

Pablo Franco is close to taking over as coach of Esperance Tunis, following the departure of Laurenciu Reghecampf, who ended his stint with the team after just two months due to his desire to return to Romania and receiving an offer from FCSB.

According to Tunisian reports, the management of Esperance Tunis has started negotiations with Franco, who has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Rigecamp after he led MAS Fes to win the Botola Pro title last season.

Esperance Tunis's move to sign a Spanish coach comes at a sensitive time, as the club seeks to finalize the coaching file quickly during the international break, in preparation for the resumption of its domestic and continental competitions.

Who is Pablo Franco?

Pablo Franco Martín was born in the Spanish capital Madrid on June 11, 1980, and is currently 46 years old. He holds the professional coaching license 'UEFA Pro'.

Franco's coaching experience is not limited to Spanish football, having had stints in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Gulf region. He has worked with clubs in Spain, Georgia, China, Kuwait, Tanzania, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco, in addition to his time with Real Madrid as part of Julen Lopetegui's coaching staff.

Franco began his coaching career in lower division teams, where he worked within the technical staff of Alcobendas, Mostoles, Fuenlabrada, and Santa Eugenia, before getting the chance to take direct responsibility.

His notable start came with Getafe, where he took charge of the reserve team during the 2014-2015 season before moving on to lead the first team in LaLiga.

After Kiki Sánchez Flores' resignation in February 2015, Franco took over as Getafe's temporary coach, continuing in the role until the end of the season. Under his leadership, the team played 14 matches in LaLiga, achieving 3 victories, 2 draws, and 9 defeats.

The journey begins outside Spain.

After his time with Getafe, Franco decided to embark on his first coaching experience outside Spain, taking charge of Saburtalo Tbilisi in March 2016, which was competing in its first season in the top division.

In the 2017-2018 season, he moved to China, where he worked within the coaching staff of Beijing Guoan in the first division, serving as an assistant coach, adding a new experience to his career in Asian football.

Real Madrid's journey with Lopetegui.

Franco's experience with Real Madrid remains one of the highlights of his career, having joined the coaching staff during the 2018-2019 season as an analyst for opponent matches and assistant coach during Julen Lopetegui's tenure.

This experience allowed him to work within one of the most prominent coaching staff in the world, in an environment that heavily relies on opponent analysis and tactical preparation.

After his experiences in Spain and China, Franco moved to the Gulf region, where he took charge of Qadsia SC in 2019. His tenure lasted until 2021, making it one of his longest coaching stints, before he moved to Tanzania.

In November 2021, the Spanish coach took charge of Simba SC in his first experience with one of East Africa's top clubs. During the 2021-2022 season, he led the team in 30 matches in the Tanzanian league, achieving 16 victories, 8 draws, and 6 defeats.

Trials in South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

After a period away from coaching, Franco returned to work in July 2023 with Amazulu in South Africa, where his stint lasted around 15 months.

In December 2024, he moved to Saudi Arabia to coach Al-Faisaly, but his tenure did not last long, as he led the team during the second half of the 2024-2025 season, playing 20 matches, achieving 4 victories, 8 draws, and 8 defeats.

MAS Fes is poised to mark a major achievement in their history as they approach a pivotal moment of celebration.

In July 2025, Franco took over the management of MAS Fes, aiming to bring the team back into contention in Moroccan football.

The Spanish coach has succeeded in achieving more than just improving the team's results, as he led MAS Fes to win the Botola Pro title for the 2025-2026 season, ending a long wait for the Fes club for the championship title.

This victory is MAS Fes's first in the Botola Pro in over 40 years, making it a notable milestone in Franco's coaching journey and bringing his name back into the spotlight as he approaches the possibility of taking charge of Esperance Tunis.