The Rennes manager has explained that he did not feel ready to take charge of a Premier League club, with his command of English a major concern when considering how he would communicate with players and staff.
Haise's work at Lens between 2020 and 2024 attracted attention from England after he helped restore the club to the upper reaches of French football. The interest was real, but the 55-year-old says he was the one who chose not to pursue the opportunities.
“There was Brighton, Everton also came to make enquiries, and Nottingham Forest had asked for information. Every time, I was the one who refused to go further in the discussions because I didn't feel ready,” he told So Foot.
His hesitation was not based on doubts about the clubs or the challenge of managing in the Premier League. Instead, Haise felt that his English was not good enough for the everyday demands of the job.
“Rightly or wrongly, I still think my level of English is insufficient. For communication, for the way of speaking with the players and the staff,” he explained.
For a manager moving into a new country, the language barrier can affect far more than press conferences and interviews. Haise was concerned about the ability to communicate his ideas clearly, build relationships with his squad and manage the daily interactions that shape a dressing room.
He admitted that some of the obstacle may have been one he had created for himself, but has continued working to improve his language skills.
The Frenchman revealed that he is approaching an extraordinary milestone with language-learning app Duolingo.
“I'm almost at a thousand days on Duolingo. Well, it's Duolingo, but I'm making the effort to work,” he said, adding that he may have created the barrier himself.
Haise's English concerns have not stopped him considering the possibility of working abroad in the future, but his comments suggest that he wants to feel properly equipped before taking such a step.
After leaving Lens in 2024, he moved to Nice before taking charge of Rennes in February 2026. His career has continued to develop in France, but the Premier League opportunities offer an intriguing indication of how highly his work at Lens was regarded.
Brighton, Everton and Nottingham Forest were all interested in exploring the possibility of appointing him. Haise, however, decided that the timing was not right.
Nearly 1,000 days of Duolingo lessons later, he is still working on the issue that helped keep him out of English football. The Premier League door has not necessarily closed, but Haise wants to be confident that he can communicate with his players and staff before walking through it.