Paris: France’s World Cup and Euro winning captain Didier Deschamps has been named coach of the national side, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on its website.
The 43-year-old – who captained France to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 trophies – replaces Laurent Blanc, who turned down a new two year contract last weekend.
Blanc had guided the French to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, but dressing room discord and two outbursts by Samir Nasri had not helped Blanc’s cause.
Deschamps contract is for two years, taking him up to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, with an extension possible if France qualify for the tournament. (AFP)