FC Girondins de Bordeaux have announced the return of former coach Ricardo as general manager, with Patrick Colleter to join the club as assistant coach.
Brazilian Ricardo, who has left his position as Santos' sporting director, was on Wednesday named as Bordeaux's new general manager. Ricardo, 53, is now in his second spell with the club after holding the reins between 2005 and 2007, when he took them to a second-placed Ligue 1 Conforama finish in 2006 and the Coupe de la Ligue title in 2007.
Bédouet to stay, Colleter to assist
Meanwhile, Eric Bédouet, who stepped in as interim coach following Gustavo Poyet's dismissal, will stay on as coach and will be assisted by Patrick Colleter (assistant coach), who was Ricardo's assistant during his previous spell at the club.
Ricardo: from Monaco to Botafogo
In his two seasons in charge, Ricardo installed a solid defensive base and the results flowed, forming the bedrock for the Ligue 1 Conforama title obtained by his successor Laurent Blanc in 2009.
After a stint with AS Monaco (2007 to 2009), the Brazilian returned to his homeland, where he suffered two strokes - one in 2010 and another, more serious one, during a match in late August 2011, when he was coaching Vasco da Gama, which left him in a coma for ten days. After months of rehabilitation and with a noticeable lack of function in his right arm, he retuned to more-or-less normal duties with Botafogo in 2015.
Bordeaux currently sit in 19th place on the Ligue 1 Conforama table after four rounds, having clocked one win and three defeats.
