Laurent Blanc

Laurent Blanc (born 19 November 1965) is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the current manager of Ligue 1 club Lyon.

Blanc began his playing career with Montpellier in 1983 and won the Coupe de France with the club in 1990. He then moved to Napoli in 1991, where he won the Serie A title in 1994 and the Coppa Italia in 1994. In 1996, he joined Barcelona, where he won the La Liga title in 1998 and 1999 and the Copa del Rey in 1997 and 1998. He returned to France in 2001 to play for Marseille, where he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2004.

Blanc made 97 appearances for the France national team from 1989 to 2000. He was part of the team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 UEFA European Championship.

After retiring from playing in 2003, Blanc became a manager. He was appointed manager of Bordeaux in 2007 and won the Ligue 1 title in 2009. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 and won the Ligue 1 title in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. He was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain in 2016 but was reappointed in 2018. He left Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

In October 2022, Blanc was appointed manager of Lyon.

Blanc is considered to be one of the greatest French footballers of all time. He was known for his elegant playing style, his passing ability, and his leadership skills. He was also a versatile player who could play in a variety of positions.

Blanc has been praised for his managerial skills. He is known for his ability to get the best out of his players and for his tactical flexibility. He has also been praised for his man-management skills and his ability to create a positive atmosphere within his teams.