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Laurent Blanc

Position: defender

France

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Name: Laurent Blanc

Birthdate: 19-11-1965

Age: 59

Birthplace: Ales, France

Height: 6' 4" (1.93m)

Weight: 13st 12lbs (88kg)

Years at Club: 2001-2003

Signing Info: Transferred from: FC Internazionale Milan, 30/08/2001, £free

Previous Clubs: Montpellier Herault SC, SSC Napoli, Nimes Olympique SC, AS St Etienne, AJ Auxerre, FC Barcelona, Olympique de Marseille, FC Internazionale Milan

Debut: 08/09/2001 v Everton (H) 4-1 (Premiership)

Farewell: Retired from game, 01/07/2003

Passed Away:

Biography
Early Life and Youth Career
Laurent Blanc was born on November 19, 1965, in Alès, a town in southern France. He grew up in a footballing family—his uncle José Santini was a professional player—so Blanc began playing at a young age. He joined his local club, ASPTT Alès, where his towering presence and composure on the ball marked him out as a promising defender. In 1983, at age 17, he was scouted by Montpellier HSC and enrolled in their youth academy. Under coach René Marsiglia, he refined his defensive technique and aerial ability, earning promotion to Montpellier’s first team in 1984.

Club Career
Montpellier (1984–1991)
Blanc made his professional debut for Montpellier in Ligue 2 during the 1984–85 season. He helped them win promotion to Ligue 1 in 1987 by finishing second, and over the next four seasons, he became a mainstay in central defense. In 1989–90, he captained Montpellier to their first major trophy—the Coupe de France—defeating RC Paris 0–1 in the final. His leadership, ball-playing ability, and penchant for driving forward from defense drew attention from clubs abroad. During his time at Montpellier, he made 242 appearances and scored 28 goals in all competitions.

Napoli (1991–1993)
In July 1991, Blanc signed for Serie A champions Napoli for a fee of approximately €5 million. Playing alongside the likes of Careca and Salvatore Bagni, he adapted to Italy’s tactical defensive demands, forming a strong partnership with Ciro Ferrara. Over two seasons, Blanc made 55 league appearances and scored 5 goals. Napoli finished third in 1991–92 and took fourth in 1992–93, with Blanc contributing vital goals from set pieces.

Return to France: Nîmes (loan) & Saint-Étienne (1993–1996)
Limited playing time at Napoli led Blanc to return to France on loan with Nîmes Olympique for the 1993–94 Ligue 1 season. He made 28 appearances and scored 2 goals, but Nîmes were relegated at season’s end. In summer 1994, Blanc joined AS Saint-Étienne, who had just been promoted to Ligue 1. Over two seasons (1994–96), he featured 68 times and scored 6 goals, earning plaudits for his organizational skill in defense despite Saint-Étienne’s midtable finishes.

Auxerre (1996–1997)
Blanc’s consistent form led to a move to AJ Auxerre under manager Guy Roux in 1996. In the 1996–97 season, Blanc captained Auxerre to a historic double—winning both Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. He scored 7 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions, combining defensive solidity with intelligent passing out of the back. His performances earned him the Ligue 1 Defender of the Year award that season.

FC Barcelona (1997–1999)
FC Barcelona signed Blanc in summer 1997 for approximately €12 million. Playing alongside Josep Guardiola and Ronald de Boer, he slotted into Louis van Gaal’s 3–4–3 system. In 1997–98, Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and UEFA Super Cup, with Blanc anchoring a defense that conceded just 29 goals in 38 La Liga matches. He made 67 appearances and scored 5 goals over two seasons, earning the nickname “Le Président” for his composure and leadership.

Olympique Marseille (1999–2001)
Blanc returned to France in July 1999, joining Olympique Marseille as captain. Under manager Javier Clemente, he helped guide the team to UEFA Cup qualification in 1999–2000. Over two seasons, Blanc made 61 appearances, scored 4 goals, and was lauded for his mentorship of younger defenders, such as Bixente Lizarazu. He left Marseille in summer 2001 after concluding negotiations with Internazionale.

Internazionale (2001–2003)
At age 35, Blanc moved back to Serie A with Internazionale. He featured regularly in 2001–02, making 32 Serie A appearances and scoring twice, as Inter finished second in the league behind Juventus. In 2002–03, injuries limited him to 14 appearances before he announced his retirement in June 2003. Over his two seasons at Inter, he totaled 46 games and 3 goals.

International Career
Blanc earned his first cap for France on March 17, 1989, in a 2–0 Euro 1992 qualifier win over Cyprus. Quickly establishing himself alongside Marcel Desailly and Frank Lebœuf, he became known as a defender unafraid to carry the ball out from the back.

UEFA Euro 1996: Played every minute as France reached the semifinals, where they lost to the Czech Republic on penalties.

FIFA World Cup 1998: A key member of the “Les Bleus” squad that won France’s first World Cup. In the quarterfinal against Italy, Blanc converted the decisive penalty in the shootout. He made six appearances, conceding only one goal en route to the final, where France beat Brazil 3–0.

UEFA Euro 2000: Partnered with Marcel Desailly in central defense as France won the tournament; Blanc played all six matches and scored against the Netherlands in the semifinal (2–3 loss, but France advanced on golden goal). He was named in the Team of the Tournament.

2001 FIFA Confederations Cup: Captained France to victory, defeating Japan in the final.

FIFA World Cup 2002 & UEFA Euro 2004: France were eliminated early in both tournaments; Blanc saw reduced playing time in 2004 under coach Jacques Santini. He retired from international football after France’s quarterfinal exit at Euro 2004.

Over an international career spanning 1989–2004, Blanc earned 97 caps and scored 16 goals—the highest tally by any defender in French history at that time.

Managerial Career
FC Lyon (2007–2009)
After a brief spell as television pundit, Blanc began his coaching career at Lyon in June 2007. In four seasons, he won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles (2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10), the 2007–08 Coupe de France, and two Trophée des Champions. He was named Ligue 1 Manager of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

FC Bordeaux (2009–2010)
Blanc moved to Bordeaux in June 2009. In his only season, he led them to the Ligue 1 title (2008–09), the Coupe de la Ligue (2009–10), and a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal appearance.

France National Team (2010–2012)
Appointed head coach of France in July 2010, Blanc inherited a team that had failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. He guided them through a perfect qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 but resigned in June 2012 after a group-stage exit in the final tournament.

Paris Saint-Germain (2013–2016)
Joining PSG in June 2013, Blanc oversaw the most successful period in the club’s history up to that point. PSG won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles (2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16), two Coupes de France, two Coupes de la Ligue, and two Trophée des Champions. He departed in June 2016 with a reputation for defensive solidity and man-management.

Al-Rayyan SC (2016–2017) & OGC Nice (2019–2020)
Blanc spent a year managing Al-Rayyan in Qatar (2016–17), winning the Qatar Crown Prince Cup in 2017. He was appointed manager of Nice in October 2019, steering them to a 5th-place Ligue 1 finish in 2019–20 despite the COVID-19–shortened season, before departing by mutual consent in September 2020.

Playing Style and Attributes
Ball-Playing Centre-Back: Blanc was among the first defenders comfortable initiating attacks from deep, using precise long passes and calm dribbling.

Aerial Dominance: Standing 1.87 m tall, he excelled at defending crosses and set pieces, while also contributing goals at the far post.

Leadership & Intelligence: Nicknamed “Le Président,” he marshaled his backline with tactical acumen, anticipation, and organizational skill.

Versatility: Although primarily a centre-back, he could fill in at right-back or as a defensive midfielder when required.

Personal Life
Laurent Blanc married French model and author Véronika Loubry in 2004. They have two children, Vivianne (born 2008) and Matthis (born 2012). Off the pitch, Blanc is known for his love of architecture and often collaborates on design projects in Lyon, where he maintains a residence. He has also participated in numerous charity matches and UNICEF fundraising initiatives.

Career Statistics (Summary)
Club (League Appearances / Goals)
Montpellier (1984–1991): 242 / 28

Napoli (1991–1993): 55 / 5

Nîmes (loan, 1993–1994): 28 / 2

Saint-Étienne (1994–1996): 68 / 6

Auxerre (1996–1997): 44 / 7

Barcelona (1997–1999): 61 / 5

Marseille (1999–2001): 61 / 4

Internazionale (2001–2003): 46 / 3

Total: 605 appearances, 60 goals

International (France)
Caps: 97

Goals: 16

Honors
Club
Montpellier: Coupe de France (1989–90)

Auxerre: Ligue 1 (1996–97), Coupe de France (1996–97)

Barcelona: Copa del Rey (1997–98), Supercopa de España (1997), UEFA Super Cup (1997)

International
France: FIFA World Cup (1998), UEFA European Championship (2000), FIFA Confederations Cup (2001), Olympic gold (as reserve, 1984 – unused squad member)

Individual
Ligue 1 Defender of the Year: 1996–97

French Player of the Year: 1998, 2000

UEFA Team of the Tournament: Euro 2000

Ligue 1 Manager of the Year: 2007–08, 2008–09

Managerial
Lyon: Ligue 1 (2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10), Coupe de France (2007–08), Trophée des Champions (2007, 2008, 2009)

Bordeaux: Ligue 1 (2008–09), Coupe de la Ligue (2009–10)

Paris Saint-Germain: Ligue 1 (2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16), Coupe de France (2014–15, 2015–16), Coupe de la Ligue (2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16), Trophée des Champions (2013, 2014, 2015)

Al-Rayyan: Qatar Crown Prince Cup (2017)

Laurent Blanc’s legacy spans both illustrious playing and managerial careers. As a defender, he redefined the centre-back role by combining elegance on the ball with astute leadership. Transitioning seamlessly into coaching, he delivered trophies at multiple clubs and guided France to a major trophy in the Confederations Cup. Whether organizing a backline or orchestrating an attack from deep, Blanc’s football intellect has left an indelible mark on the modern game.



		League		League Cup		FA Cup		Charity Shield		European Cup		Europa League		Super Cup		Cup Winners Cup		Inter-cont Cup		World Clubs Cup

No	Season																					Season Goals	Season Apps
1.	2001-2002	1	29	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	46
2.	2002-2003	0	19	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	29
TOTALS		1	48	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	24	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	75