Blanc takes over PSG on two-year deal
Paris
Saint-Germain named Laurent Blanc as coach on a two-year contract on
Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation over who would succeed Carlo
Ancelotti.
The 47-year-old
Blanc, out of a job since departing as France coach after their Euro
2012 quarter-final exit, led Girondins Bordeaux to the French title in
2009.
"Paris Saint-Germain is
delighted to announce the appointment of Laurent Blanc as coach for the
next two years," PSG said in a statement.
Blanc will begin work on Monday for the start of the pre-season training.
The
former France international sweeper replaced Ancelotti, who said last
month he wanted to leave the club after leading them to their first
French title since 1994. The Italian agreed to join Real Madrid on
Tuesday.
Blanc, who played
for Montpellier, Marseille, Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter
Milan, was part of France's World Cup-winning squad in 1998 and won the
last of his 97 caps in the 2000 European Championship final victory
against Italy.
But he was not PSG's first choice, according to media reports.
French
media said Roberto Mancini, Fabio Capello, Andre Villas-Boas, Frank
Rijkaard, Manuel Pellegrini, Rafa Benitez, Michael Laudrup and Guus
Hiddink were all approached by the club.
Owners
Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) have spent over 200 million euros on transfers since taking over the club two years ago,
recruiting the likes of Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Brazilian
defender Thiago Silva in pursuit of a Champions League victory within
five years.
Blanc, whose
European coaching experience is limited to two seasons with Bordeaux,
will have to deal with QSI's high expectations.
"The
mission Paris Saint-Germain's management has assigned Laurent Blanc is to
continue the work initiated last year and lead the team towards the
European heights," the statement said.
The
Frenchman, who earned the nickname "The President" during his playing
days, will also have to prove he can handle a squad full of characters
after failing to keep France's bad-tempered players under control at the
European Championship.
The
list includes PSG forward Jeremy Menez who was banned for one game by
the French Football Federation for insulting a referee.
The
representatives of Brazil captain Silva and Ibrahimovic appear to have
supported the appointment, saying the most respected players in PSG
locker-room back Blanc.
"Laurent
Blanc can't be a wrong choice. He was France coach, he's equal to all
the names that have been cited. They are all great coaches," Silva's
agent Paulo Tonietto told French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche.
source: http://fourfourtwo.com/news/restofeurope/129211/default.aspx
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