Roshn Saudi League giants Al Ittihad have announced the appointment of Laurent Blanc as their new head coach.
Four-time Ligue 1 champion as a manager, Blanc started his managerial career with Bordeaux in 2007, leading the Girondins club to their first league title in a decade in 2008-09 before taking over the top job at the French national team in 2010.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup winner then replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of Paris Saint-Germain, guiding them to three consecutive league titles.
Welcome to Al-Ittihad, Coach Laurent Blanc 🤝🟡⚫️ pic.twitter.com/UdBm7gB1lE
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 13, 2024
Al Ittihad represent the 58-year-old’s second adventure in the region, having previously had a spell at Qatari side Al Rayyan. His most recent job was in his native country with Olympique Lyon.
Al Ittihad, RSL champions in 2022-23, finished fifth last season in a disappointing campaign that saw the Jeddah-based powerhouse sack Nuno Espirito Santo in November and replace him with Marcelo Gallardo. The Argentine was then dismissed at the end of the season.
Blanc teams up with compatriots Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, having managed the former during his time as France boss.
🗣️ "I had no business being there, but there comes a time when you have to try and take responsibility."
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 28, 2020
🪙 Laurent Blanc, from 7 yards out, scored the 1st Golden Goal in #WorldCup history to power 🇫🇷 @FrenchTeam into the quarter-finals pic.twitter.com/nmLiV9blMr
During his playing years, Blanc was the first player in history to score a Golden Goal at the FIFA World Cup, helping France defeat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 en route to winning the title. Two years later, he helped Les Bleus win Euro 2000, being named in Team of the Tournament.
At club level, the former centre-back played for a host of top European clubs including Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille, Inter and Manchester United.
