Laurent Blanc gets my vote

By Ulysse Pasquier, writing from Montreal

In a statement issued after a council meeting in Paris, The French Football Federation has confirmed that Laurent Blanc will replace Raymond Domenech as France coach after the World Cup in South Africa.

This is a news that many people in France have been waiting and I am very excited about the prospect of having him as manager of Les Bleus and all that he can offer to the team. The 44-year-old took over as coach of Bordeaux three years ago leading them to a Ligue 1 title and a League Cup double last season.

There have been rumors however that some players were not sure about Blanc. Nicolas Anelka reportedly said to the press that he thought the 1998 World Cup winner was not experienced enough as a manager and that they needed someone who had already coached the greatest teams in Europe. Anelka continued to suggest that Arsene Wenger would be a better option, but let’s face it, that’s not happening anytime soon.

I disagree with the Chelsea striker and I think Laurent Blanc may just be the perfect choice. I think that many people don’t give him the credit he deserves as what he has accomplished with Les Girondins is quite remarkable. He has played a great role in putting Lyon’s 7-year domination to an end and has brought a new competitive edge to the Ligue 1.