Football: Laurent Blanc named the new coach of the Saudi Al-Ittihad club

2024-07-13 15:45:18

Without a team since he was fired from Olympique Lyonnais in September 2023, Laurent Blanc was officially appointed as the new coach of the Al-Ittihad team in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, July 13, where he Former French soccer player Karim Benzema is a key member of the French team during Euro 2012, as well as French international N’Golo Kanté, who is at Euro 2024 in Germany with the Blues. The career of Laurent Blanc, 58, revolves after this brief period at the head of the Tricolores (2010-2012). The former world champion (1998) and European champion (2000) with the Blues experienced national glory but no European recognition with PSG (2013-2016), before flying to Qatar for a free on the Al-Rayyan bench between December 2020 and February 2022 followed by failed experience in OL. The French coach will try to resume his career in Saudi Arabia among a famous team in the region but which has come out of a complete failure and a very eventful season. Leading in 2023, Al-Ittihad only finished fifth in the Saudi league this year and did not qualify for the Asian Champions League, pushing the leaders to part ways with Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo. According to many sources, Benzema would have played an important role in Blanc’s selection. Much criticized for his actions far from expectations despite a golden contract (200 million euros per season), the ex-Madrilenian would have campaigned for the arrival of a French-speaking coach.
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