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May 21, 2010

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Blanc approved for France

LAURENT Blanc will replace the controversial Raymond Domenech as France coach after the World Cup, the French Football Federation (FFF) said yesterday.

A prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad, although he was suspended for the final, Blanc will take over from Domenech after the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa.

The 44-year-old took over as coach of Girondins Bordeaux three years ago, leading it to a Ligue 1 and League Cup double last season.

The FFF "confirmed the choice of Laurent Blanc as national team coach after the 2010 World Cup", the ruling body said in a statement issued after a meeting in Paris.

The Federation said it would make no further comment until Blanc officially signs his contract and did not specify when that would happen.

The last significant hurdle was cleared yesterday when the FFF said it had reached an agreement with Girondins, meaning there should be a financial compensation for the club, Blanc having a year left in his contract.

Blanc told Bordeaux on Sunday he wanted to leave the club to take the France job. Girondins had reacted by saying it wants financial compensation for letting him go.

Blanc, who also won the European Championship with France in 2000, played for several leading clubs including Barcelona, Olympique Marseille, Inter Milan and Manchester United.

An elegant sweeper in his playing days, he has been dubbed "the President" for his leadership skills since then.

Unlike Domenech, who has never won anything as coach, Blanc has put his hands on plenty of silverware and should be much more popular than his predecessor at first, although he is sometimes perceived as distant and cold, if not arrogant.

 

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