Former France boss Blanc takes over at Al-Ittihad
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com
Former France manager Laurent Blanc has been hired as coach of Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian club announced yesterday.
Blanc, who had been out of work since being fired by Lyon last September, will be reunited in Jeddah with one star from his 2012 Euro squad Karim Benzema.
After the team finished fifth in the Saudi league last season, the 36-year-old striker, the club’s star recruit, reportedly campaigned for a French-speaking coach.
This prompted the resignation of club president Louay Nazer, who had reportedly reached an agreement with Italian Stefano Pioli, who had left AC Milan.
The Al-Ittihad squad also includes N’Golo Kante, a starter in the France team that reached the last four at the current Euros, and former Monaco and Liverpool Brazilian Fabinho.
The 58-year-old Blanc was at the heart of the France defence as they won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
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