The former Arsenal midfielder Rémi Garde has been named as Lyon's new coach, replacing Claude Puel. The club said Garde, who currently heads Lyon's youth academy, will be officially presented later today.

The seven-time French champions fired Puel earlier this week, ending the coach's disappointing three-year tenure. Lyon reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 2010 but have not won a trophy since Puel took over from Alain Perrin, who led Lyon to the league and cup double in 2007-08, which included their seventh league title in a row.

A statement on the club's website said: "On Wednesday, [there will be] a press conference with Jean-Michel Aulas in the presence of Bernard Lacombe and Remi Garde for the appointment of the latter at the head of the first-team squad."

The 45-year-old Garde started his career with Lyon where he played nine years before joining Strasbourg then Arsenal. During his time at Arsenal he made 45 appearances and won the Double in 1998. He returned to Lyon in 2003 as a staff member.