Football. Laurent Blanc appointed coach of Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia

Without a club since his dismissal by Lyon in September 2023, Laurent Blanc will bounce back in Saudi Arabia as coach of Al-Ittihad and will be reunited with Karim Benzema, the big star of the team based in Jeddah.

Twelve years after leading him to Euro 2012 under the colours of the French team, the former coach will once again have the ex-Madrilenian under his command. Since that date and the elimination of the Blues in the quarter-finals against Spain (2-0), the future winner of the event, Benzema has become a world star, winning five Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and the Ballon d’Or in 2022 before succumbing to the sirens of Saudi petrodollars last year.

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A career winding coach

Blanc’s (58 years old) career on the bench was much more winding after this brief stint at the head of the Tricolores (2010-2012).

The former world champion (1998) and European champion (2000) defender experienced national glory but no European consecration with PSG (2013-2016) before a stint in Qatar at Al-Rayyan (between December 2020 and February 2022) and a painful experience at OL.

3^e coach in one year

Blanc, whose contract duration has not been specified, will therefore try to relaunch his career in Saudi Arabia with a club that is locally prestigious but which is coming off a completely failed and rather eventful season.

Champions in 2023, Al-Ittihad only finished fifth in the Saudi League this year, 42 points behind champions Al-Hilal, and did not qualify for the Asian Champions League, forcing the leaders to part ways with Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo, guilty of having sidelined Benzema for a time.

According to several sources, the Frenchman also played an important role in the choice of Blanc, Benzema’s wish was granted with the signing of Blanc who will be his third coach in a year (after the Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo and Gallardo) and will have a squad populated by several old acquaintances of European football, while waiting for other possible reinforcements this summer.