Chelsea are clearly on the lookout for a new head coach (even if Conte isn’t going anywhere until at least the summer), so if you are in that line of work (especially with top flight experience) but are currently unemployed, perhaps it’s time to freshen up that CV and put your name out there. That may be exactly what former Paris Saint-Germain and French national team coach Laurent Blanc is doing as France Football (via Sport Witness) report that he’s on the radar of both Chelsea and other top teams Everton.
Blanc has been out of a job for two years, since leaving PSG in 2016 with 11 trophies to his name (in just three seasons). But PSG wanted (and still want) European glory and none of these trophies were at that level, resulting in his dismissal and a €22 million severance package (despite eliminating Chelsea two years in a row in the Champions League).
The 52-year-old World Cup winner and former Manchester United star defender is reportedly looking for an “ambitious” project, something which Chelsea should be able to provide.
Blanc may not be anyone’s first choice, but he would be a fairly reasonable appointment. He would not demand a “transfer” fee as he is a free agent, and he was successful with both Bordeaux (winning Ligue 1 with them in 2008-09) and PSG (just not in Europe). His international record however, during his three years as France head coach, is less than remarkable.
There should be plenty of interesting options for Chelsea if and when Conte leaves. Blanc is one of the less interesting ones, but perhaps that makes him one of the better ones.