Jean Fernandez has stepped down from his role as Auxerre manager after five years at the helm of the Ligue 1 outfit.
The 56-year-old took the club to ninth place in the league last season a disappointment after finishing third the campaign before.
Fernandez s contract ran out at the end of the 2010/11 season and he has decided against seeking reappointment.
Fernandez won the award for France s best coach in 2009/10, and he told French newspaper l Yonne Republicaine he was sad to be leaving a club where he had many happy memories.
I made my decision on Wednesday night. I decided to leave and turn the page at AJ Auxerre, he said.
This choice was difficult. I was reluctant, because I cannot erase five years of my life like that.
Deciding whether to stay or go was a dilemma, but I chose to leave.
Fernandez has previously managed Marseille, Lille, Metz, and Sochaux. French media has linked him with a possible move to Nancy or a return to Sochaux, where he was in charge from 1999 until 2002.
But Fernandez was non-committal about his future plans.
I have not decided, he said. I give myself two or three days of reflection.
