FC Girondins de Bordeaux have announced former Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic as their new head coach. The Bosnian-Swiss takes over from Jean-Louis Gasset and now has 11 days to work before Bordeaux's Round 1 clash with promoted Clermont Foot.
France may still be smarting from their last-16 exit in Euro 2020 - where they lost to Switzerland on penalties as Kylian Mbappé's decisive shot was saved - but that hasn't stopped Bordeaux from signing the man who engineered that defeat - Vladimir Petkovic - as head coach for the next three years.
New cycle
Known for his love of a challenge and skill at bringing young players - Jordan Lotomba and Breel Embolo to name just two - into the fold, Petkovic is seen as the perfect man to lead the beginning of a new cycle in Bordeaux under new club owner Gérard Lopez, who was prepared to part with around €1m to buy Petkovic out of his contract with the Swiss federation.
With the club having let a number of players go in the transfer window - notably Hatem Ben Arfa, Nicolas De Préville and Maxime Poundjé - while a number of youngsters returned to the club from loan spells, Petkovic will have his work cut out to get his side ready for their season opener against Clermont Foot on Sunday 8 August.
Chapeau to the man in the cap
The club is looking to a put a period of instability - and middling to poor results - behind them but remains indebted to former player and club stalwart Gasset, who stepped in to right the ship after Paulo Sousa dropped the reins just over a week before the beginning of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats season. Bordeaux finished 12th in Ligue 1 Uber Eats in season 2020-21.
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