Lyon boss Laurent Blanc dismissed as team languishes at bottom of Ligue 1 standings
Lyon Manager Laurent Blanc Sacked as Team Struggles in Ligue 1
In a surprising turn of events, Lyon manager Laurent Blanc has been sacked following the team’s poor performance in the Ligue 1. With Lyon currently sitting at the bottom of the league table, their recent 4-1 home defeat against Paris St-Germain proved to be Blanc’s final match in charge.
The club announced that Blanc left by “mutual agreement,” signaling a decision made collectively between him and the management. It is evident that Lyon’s disappointing start to the season played a significant role in this outcome.
So far, Lyon has only managed to secure one point from four games and possesses the worst goal difference among all teams competing in Ligue 1. As they aim for better results, Jean-Francois Vulliez, who oversees Lyon’s renowned academy, will step up and manage the first team on an interim basis.
Blanc took over as Lyon manager last October but failed to meet expectations during his tenure. The team finished outside of Ligue 1’s European places last season after ending up seventh overall. Prior to joining Lyon, his previous managerial role was with PSG before leaving them after the 2015-16 season.
It is worth noting that results under Blanc were disappointing overall with an average of just 1.53 points per game – one of the lowest amongst permanent managers at Lyon within the past quarter-century. Only Sylvinho’s short-lived tenure fared worse, lasting a mere nine league matches.
Before his time with Lyon and PSG, Blanc enjoyed success in French football as he led Bordeaux to a Ligue 1 title victory. He also secured three more titles managing PSG, showcasing his capabilities as a successful coach in the past.
Rumours have surfaced that former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter declined an offer to take charge of Lyon last week. However, another strong contender for the vacancy is Gennaro Gattuso, who left his previous job at Valencia earlier this year.
During Blanc’s managerial spell at Lyon, American businessman John Textor completed a takeover of the club. It remains to be seen how these recent changes will impact the future direction of the team.