Born in Rouen, Denoueix spent his whole playing career as a defender at FC Nantes before becoming a coach at the club's youth academy. During his time at the youth academy, he discovered players such as Didier Deschamps or Marcel Desailly. After Jean-Claude Suaudeau's retirement, he became the first team coach and won the Division 1 in the 2000β01 season. He was sacked the following season due to unsatisfying results in Ligue 1. In 2002, he was signed by the Real Sociedad and led the Spanish team to the second place in La Liga in the 2002β03 season.