He then spent several years as a manager, and won back-to-back Coupes de France, in 2001 with Strasbourg and in 2002 with Lorient, as well as a taking Metz to the quarter finals in 2008.
He made his first team debut aged 19, as a half-time substitute against Tours in Ligue 1, and scored within ten minutes of entering the field of play.
[6] The following season Lorient made their first ever appearance in European competition, entering at the first round stage of the 2002–03 UEFA Cup, only to lose on the away goals rule to Denizlispor.
[9] At the end of the 2002–03 season Lorient narrowly failed to win promotion back to Ligue 1, and Pouliquen was replaced by Christian Gourcuff.
[11] He then had a spell as manager of Grenoble Foot 38 in the 2006–07 season before joining FC Metz in December 2007 with the club bottom of Ligue 1.