adminPETER Bosz, the Dutch coach whose arrival at Olympique Lyon pushed Tino Kadewere to the fringes, has been FIRED.
He spent one-and-half years at the club.
The Dutchman arrived at a time when the Warriors forward was an influential member of the team.
However, the coach appeared not to favour the Zimbabwean and, at the beginning of this season, pushed him to Spain on loan.
Bosz was fired on Sunday after his team racked up only one point in its last five French league games.
Laurent Blanc will replace Bosz on a two-year contract, starting on Monday, the club said.
Blanc led Bordeaux to the league title in 2009 before guiding Paris Saint-Germain to three straight league titles from 2014 to 2016.
The firing comes at a sensitive time as Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has been in talks to sell the club to Eagle Football Holdings LLC, controlled by American businessman John Textor.
The deal was set to be finalised on Sept. 30 but has been postponed to Oct. 21 as both parties are still negotiating the financial details, especially a partial repayment of the debt to the club’s lenders.
In a press release, Lyon said it was in contact with Textor on Saturday night before firing Bosz and hiring Blanc.
Lyon drew with promoted Toulouse 1-1 on Friday to snap a four-game losing streak, their worst run of form in the league since 1991.
Bosz was booed by the fans when the stadium announcer read his name before kick-off.
Lyon was in seventh place before Sunday’s games, eight points outside the top three spots.
“Given the disappointing results obtained during this beginning of the season, which remain well below the expectations and objectives set, Olympique Lyonnais informs of the provisional dismissal of Peter Bosz, as coach of the professional team, as well as those of Rob Maas, assistant coach, and Terry Peters, physical trainer.
“A reflection was conducted internally in order to find the necessary levers to allow the team to start on solid foundations in order to be in line with OL’s ambitions this season. At the end of it and after having exchanged in the night from Saturday to Sunday with John Textor, Olympique Lyonnais informs that it has taken the decision to appoint, as head coach of the professional team, Laurent Blanc for 2 seasons, until June 30, 2024.
“This decision was taken unanimously by the entire institution to give Olympique Lyonnais a very ambitious dimension for the future, both on the French and continental scene.”
Blanc will be accompanied by Franck Passi, as assistant, and Philippe Lambert, as physical trainer. – Sports Reporter/AP
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter