Laurent Blanc

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Blanc played professional football for numerous clubs, including Montpellier, Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille, Inter Milan and Manchester United, often operating in the sweeper position. He is also a former French international, earning 97 caps and scoring 16 international goals. He represented the country in several international tournaments, including the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, both of which France won. On 28 June 1998, Blanc scored the first golden goal in World Cup history against Paraguay. He began his managerial career at Bordeaux in 2007, winning domestic honours including the 2008–09 Ligue 1 title. After leaving Bordeaux in 2010 he became the manager of the France national team until 2012, replacing Raymond Domenech in the wake of a disastrous 2010 FIFA World Cup performance and leading the country to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2012. In 2013, he was hired by Paris Saint-Germain, where he would win eleven trophies, including two domestic doubles. After three successful years with Paris Saint-Germain he left the club in June 2016, and was hired Al-Rayyan in 2020. Following more than six years without coaching in Europe, he was appointed manager by Lyon in October 2022, but he was sacked the following year and in 2024 became the manager of Al-Ittihad.

In Their Own Story

Blanc started as an attacking midfielder at Montpellier before settling as a defender following advice from Michel Mézy. He won the Coupe de France in 1990 with Montpellier, scoring in the final. After spells at Napoli, Nîmes, and Saint Étienne, he joined Auxerre in 1995, winning a domestic double. His time at Barcelona was marked by injury, but he found leadership success at Marseille, where he earned his famous nickname. He later moved to Inter Milan, then Manchester United, where he won the 2002–03 FA Premier League title before retiring.

Reader's Guide

Blanc was born in Alès, Gard, France. His career started at Montpellier, where he signed his first professional contract in 1983. A very technical, yet slow player, he played as an attacking midfielder and helped the club get promoted to Division 1 in 1987. Only a few years later did he settle as a defender following the advice from Michel Mézy, a position in which his physical stature (1.92 m, 86 kg) and his temperament would prove invaluable. He won the Coupe de France in 1990, scoring a goal in the final match. Blanc scored 83 goals in all competitions for Montpellier (76 altogether in Division 1 and Division 2). In 1991, Blanc left Montpellier for Napoli in the Italian Serie A. After one year, he returned to France to Nîmes and then Saint-Étienne. He joined Auxerre in 1995 and played a great part in the team's double that year. Blanc then joined Barcelona, winning the Supercopa de España against Atlético Madrid, but his spell was less than happy due to injuries and a sending off. He moved to Marseille, where he earned the nickname 'Le Président', helped Marseille finish fourth in his first season, and later reached the UEFA Cup final. He then played for Inter Milan, winning the Pirata d'Oro (Inter Player of the Year) in 2000. In August 2001, at age 35, he joined Manchester United to replace Jaap Stam. He scored four goals for United, including one in the league against Tottenham Hotspur and three in the Champions League. He retired after helping United win the 2002–03 FA Premier League title. Internationally, Blanc won the 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and was named the tournament's Golden Player. He made his senior debut on 7 February 1989 against the Republic of Ireland. He scored France's opening goal in the final group match of Euro 1996 against Bulgaria, and converted a penalty in the quarter-final shootout against the Netherlands. At the 1998 World Cup, he scored the first golden goal in World Cup history against Paraguay in the round of 16, and scored the winning penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Italy. He missed the final after being sent off in the semi-final against Croatia for slapping Slaven Bilić, his only red card in international professional career.

Did You Know?

• Blanc scored the first golden goal in World Cup history against Paraguay on 28 June 1998.
• He was nicknamed 'Le Président' after his leadership at Marseille.
• Blanc won the Pirata d'Oro (Inter Player of the Year) in 2000.
• He scored 83 goals in all competitions for Montpellier, but is not the club's all-time leading goal scorer.