BORDEAUX, France — Former France and Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol has been appointed Bordeaux coach on a three-year deal.
The 37-year-old Sagnol, who is currently in charge of France’s under-21 team, will replace Francis Gillot after the club failed to hire France great Zinedine Zidane. Sagnol, who ended his playing career in 2009, has never coached a club team.
Zidane, who played for Bordeaux from 1992-96, was favoured to be the next coach but his attachment to Real Madrid, where two of his sons have come through the team’s youth ranks, proved a crucial factor in turning down a move.
Sagnol was Zidane’s teammate when France reached the 2006 World Cup final in Germany.
