Grooming Domenech’s Replacement Already?

December 11th, 2009 | by: Sarah | View Comments

No, don’t get too excited. It won’t happen before South Africa, and it may not happen ever but Goal.com is reporting that the FFF are trying to woo Blanc to replace Raymond after World Cup 2010 (when Domenech’s contract is up). But will Blanc agree, particularly after he was passed up for the position in 2004 for Domenech?

The reasons for Domenech being chosen for the position have always been unclear, but most reports point to the entrenched culture of nepotism that favors time served over talent/ability. Basically, there is a strict system for promotion within the FFF, and managers are suppose to start at the bottom of organization coaching the youth teams and then they are promoted up through the ranks until they are eligible to work with the senior national squad (and don’t even think of suggesting a foreign coach!). Blanc, when he applied, was relatively inexperienced and didn’t have any “time served” in the FFF system (unless you count the years he dedicated to the senior team, including winning the World Cup and Euro- but that would just be too rational!).

Since then, Domenech has presided over a World Cup Finals team who didn’t do much before that finals appearance and haven’t done much since (though I will credit him for giving caps to Ben Arfa, Nasri, Benzema and younger French players). Blanc has coached Bordeaux to the 2009 Ligue 1 title (ousting Lyon for the first time in 7 years), led his team to the Champions League knock-out rounds from the “Group of Death” by beating Bayern and Juventus and appears to be well on his way to leading Bordeaux to their second Ligue 1 title.

Bordeaux has announced they would allow Blanc to coach the national team, but for now Blanc is playing the diplomat, denying any link to the position.

“It’s always pleasing, always gratifying to know that you are being thought of to be the coach of a team,” he said. “After, I am the only one to know what reflection I could have.
There is a season to do, matches to win, a winter break that’s coming up and God knows I need it,” he went on. “My focus is going nowhere but there.
Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc

“Leave me to focus myself on Bordeaux because there is a season to do, matches to win, a winter break that’s coming up and God knows I need it,” he went on. “My focus is going nowhere but there.”