PARIS, June 13: Didier Deschamps, Jean Tigana and Phillipe Troussier have been listed as the favourites for the French manager’s post if, as expected, Roger Lemerre leaves the job after a meeting with the French Football Federation (FFF) on Friday.
Lemerre faces crunch talks with the FFF where it’s widely believed he will either resign or face the sack after reigning champions France’s humiliating first-round exit from the World Cup.
His departure would spark a frenzy of interest in one of the most sought after jobs in world football, with former captain Deschamps being heavily touted.
Deschamps, France’s most capped player with 103 appearances for his country, is still a rookie in management terms with just one troubled season at Monaco behind him.
And, with the failed reign of legend Michel Platini in similar circumstances in the early 1990s the FFF may be wary of going down that route.
However, what he lacks in coaching diplomas, Deschamps more than makes up in playing experience and reputation.
Tigana, in the frame for the French job when Aime Jacquet quit after France 98, has the managerial experience and the playing record to make him a serious candidate.
Tigana was part of the famous European Championship winning French side of 1984, alongside Platini, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse in midfield.
Now at Fulham he led them to the English Premiership, where they had a good first season last year, but with the recent arrival of the imposing Italian Franco Baresi he could see the France job as a way out.
Troussier could never have dreamt his name would one day be in the frame for national boss during a fairly non-eventful playing career at Angouleme, Red Star Paris and Rouen in the 1970s.
However, currently in charge of the Japanese national side in the World Cup, he has made a real name for himself as a manager. His deep philosophical approach earned him the tag as the ‘white witchdoctor’ in South Africa.
In Japan he is known as the ‘angry man’ a testament to his ability to turn from nice guy to bad guy, if his team needs a shake-up.
Other outside candidates are Jacques Santini, who led Lyon to the French title last season before stepping upstairs and Raymond Domenech, the successful French under-21 coach who brought through Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Mikael Silvestre. Giresse, free after a spell at Morocco could also have a chance.—AFP