By David Gold
July 2 – Laurent Blanc has left his role as head coach of the French national team following its quarter-final exit in the 2012 UEFA European Championship – with World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps primed to succeed him.
Blanc’s (pictured above) future had been the subject of speculation even ahead of the tournament despite having led his team to an 18-match unbeaten run.
President of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graët, was reluctant to extend Blanc’s contract before the conclusion of the Euro 2012 campaign in spite of the apparent progress the former Bordeaux manager made during his two years in charge.
The 1998 World Cup winner decided, however, not to accept the terms on offer under a new contract offered to him following talks with the FFF this week, ending a strained relationship between the two parties.
“Laurent Blanc contacted the Federation President on Saturday to tell him of his decision not to accept the renewal of his contract as national team coach,” the FFF said in a statement.
Blanc took over following the traumatic World Cup campaign in 2010, when Raymond Domenech’s side was knocked out having scored only one point and netted a single goal.
On top of that the players went on strike amid infighting within the camp, and as a result Blanc refused to select any of the World Cup squad for his first match in charge.
There were also suspensions handed out to defender Patrice Evra and flanker Franck Ribery by the FFF, while striker Nicolas Anelka was banned for 18 matches following a dispute with Domenech.
In spite of turning around France’s fortunes, Blanc had said before the European Championship that its modest objective was to win one match.
France achieved that aim, beating Ukraine in the group, but drew with England and lost to Sweden before exiting at the hands of eventual champions Spain in the last eight.
Off the pitch, Blanc’s tenure was far from smooth and he had to endure a racism scandal in his first year in charge.
It was alleged that Blanc favoured quotas for the number of black and North African players in academies during discussions with football officials.
However, an investigation by the FFF and the Sports Ministry cleared him of any wrongdoing.
His tenure ended in turmoil, too, with midfielder Samir Nasri at the heart of a dispute in the French camp after swearing at a journalist following the defeat to Spain.
Nasri is now facing disciplinary proceedings from the FFF along with Hatem Ben Arfa, Yann M’Vila and Jérémy Ménez.
Deschamps, captain when France won the World Cup in 1998 (pictured above, right with Blanc), is now the heavy favourite to replace Blanc.
The former Chelsea and Juventus midfielder has left Marseille after a traumatic campaign with the French side during which it endured a calamitous run of defeats in mid-season.
Deschamps’ departure was announced this morning fuelling speculation that he will take over as France coach.
As well as captaining the national side to World Cup glory, he skippered Marseille side when it became the only French team to lift the European Cup in 1993.
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