Former France coach Blanc taking over at Al-Ittihad

Former France and PSG head Laurent Blanc has been appointed arsenic nan caller caput coach of Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad.

The 58-year-old replaces Argentine Marcelo Gallardo astatine nan helm of nan Jeddah club, which pipped Cristiano Ronaldo to nan Saudi Pro League title past season.

Welcome to Al-Ittihad, Coach Laurent Blanc 🤝🟡⚫️ pic.twitter.com/UdBm7gB1lE

— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 13, 2024

Blanc inherits a squad pinch Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante successful it and is expected to make erstwhile France and now Algerian world Houssem Aouar – who played nether Blanc astatine Lyon – his first signing successful a woody worthy astir £10m from Roma.

Blanc won 97 caps for Les Bleus arsenic a subordinate and won nan 1998 World Cup connected location ungraded arsenic good arsenic Euro 2000 successful Holland and Belgium.

After ending his playing profession astatine Man United successful 2008, he began his managerial profession astatine Bordeaux successful 2007, finishing 2nd successful his first play and past winning Ligue Un successful his second, and was appointed France leader successful 2010.

Blanc guided France to nan last-eight astatine Euro 2012 but went retired 2-0 against Spain which ended his reign and ushered successful nan Didier Deschamps era.

Blanc took complete astatine PSG successful 2013 and won nan convention and cup double, positive nan kindness shield, successful his first and nan convention positive some home cups successful his 2nd and 3rd seasons. Despite nan success, PSG’s nonaccomplishment to advancement beyond nan quarter-finals of nan Champions League successful each play saw unit build connected Blanc and he near successful 2016.

After a break from nan crippled he had an unsuccessful 14 period spell astatine Qatari nine Al-Rayyan and past lasted little than a twelvemonth astatine Lyon, being sacked past September aft a nightmare commencement to nan season, losing 3 of their first 4 matches to dishonesty bottommost of Ligue Un.