James Zhou announces Christophe Pélissier departure at AJ Auxerre

AJ Auxerre owner James Zhou announced on the club’s official website that manager Christophe Pélissier has been dismissed. Zhou indicated that Will Still is expected to take over as head coach. Zhou said the 2025-26 season was difficult, with the team hovering near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table for much of the campaign. He noted that Pélissier secured top‑flight survival with a 2‑0 victory over Lille OSC on the final matchday. The owner asked supporters for understanding and patience as the club enters a transitional period. Zhou added that the project now aims to be more ambitious, to raise AJ Auxerre to a higher level, and expressed full confidence in club president Baptiste Malherbe to deliver the plan. Pélissier had taken charge in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season after the dismissal of Jean‑Marc Furlan. He guided AJ Auxerre back to Ligue 1 by winning the Ligue 2 title in 2023-24 and achieved an 11th‑place finish in 2024-25. The club’s recent honours include the Ligue 2 crown and the 2005 Coupe de France, while under former manager Guy Roux the team won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 1995‑96.