Ligue 1: Laurent Blanc sacked by Lyon

Seven-time French champion, Lyon, on Monday, September 11, sacked manager Laurent Blanc following a terrible start to the French league season.

Laurent Blanc was appointed by Lyon in October last year, and under him, the club finished seventh last season. He has however been winless in the league this season and Lyon sits on the 18th on the Ligue 1 table with just one point after four matches.

Blanc himself jokingly suggested that the club should “change the coach” after a 4-1 home defeat by Montepllier last month. His last game in charge was a 4-1 defeat by champion PSG earlier this month, prior to the international break.

Announcing his sack, Lyon said;

“Olympique Lyonnais and Laurent Blanc have mutually agreed to end their collaboration with effect from today.

“Olympique Lyonnais would like to thank Laurent Blanc and his staff for their commitment and professionalism over the past 11 months at the helm of the team.”

French media have reported that Gennaro Gattuso is in the frame to replace Blanc at Lyon, who next play promoted side Le Havre at home on Sunday. The former Milan and Napoli manager, out of work since leaving Valencia in January, would face a battle to galvanise players who laboured under Blanc’s conservative style of play.

Other names reported to be in the frame for the Lyon job are former Eintracht Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner, Habib Beye who currently coaches Championnat National club Red Star, and even former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter.

The club sold more than €80m worth of players this summer and saw a number of others leave for free, with Houssem Aouar joining Roma and the forwards Moussa Dembélé and Karl Toko-Ekambi heading to Saudi Arabia.