RC Strasbourg Alsace have a France legend at the helm! Patrick Vieira, 47, has signed on as the eastern French club's new head coach for the next three seasons, and with him the club hopes to move from fighting against relegation - they beat the drop with a 15th-place finish in 2022-23 - to a place in the upper reaches of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table.

Keller: 'Take things to the next level'

"I'd like to welcome Patrick Vieira, whom I knew from the French national team, and I'm delighted to welcome him to Strasbourg," said Marc Keller, Racing's Chairman. "Patrick's arrival should enable us to make further progress and take things to the next level. He fits the profile we were looking for: a coach with international experience who also has a good knowledge of Ligue 1 and young players. We're convinced that he'll be able to do a great job here, in a healthy and fulfilling environment. We're going to put him in the best possible position to succeed."

Meanwhile the man of the hour is thrilled to be resuming his coaching career, which has so far seen him helm the likes of New York City (MLS) and Ligue 1 side OGC Nice but which has been on hiatus since Crystal Palace let him go in March.
 
Vieira: 'A new cycle begins'

"I'm particularly happy to be joining Racing," said Patrick Vieira, who won everything with France, racking up a World Cup (1998), a European Championship (2000) and a Confederations Cup (2001) in 107 appearances (six goals). "I'm familiar with the club's history and identity, the fervour it arouses and the importance it has for its region, a land of football and passion. The rebuilding of the club over the last few years under Marc Keller's leadership is a shining example. Working with him is a real pleasure. Today, a new cycle begins for Racing and it's exciting for a coach to be able to build something while relying on the values that make a club strong."

Vieira's appointment arrived just before the senior squad's return to training for pre-season preparations, with a training camp in the Austrian town of Bad Häring to follow from 14 to 23 July.
 
>> Calendar: Friendly matches