Laurent Blanc, former captain of the French National Team and the defensive core who led France to victory in the 1998 World Cup.
A player Ferguson could never forget. Even at thirty-five, he had brought him from Inter Milan to Manchester United, entrusted him with major responsibilities, and hoped he could fill Stam's vacancy and take charge of Manchester United's central defense.
After retiring, he first coached Bordeaux. In his very first season, he led the team to second place in Ligue 1, narrowly missing the chance to knock the traditional powerhouse Lyon off its throne. In his second season, he directly led the team to victory in both Ligue 1 and the French League Cup, achieving the Double Crown and instantly making a name for himself across European Football.
After the South Africa World Cup, Laurent Blanc replaced Domenech as the National Team head coach. At the 2012 European Cup, he reached the quarterfinals, where he lost to the unstoppable Spanish side at the time. Blanc then left the National Team post and took charge of Ligue 1's rising club, Paris Saint-Germain.
Under Blanc's management, Paris Saint-Germain had undergone a qualitative transformation domestically over the past three seasons. They had won three straight Ligue 1 titles, achieved a three-peat, and consistently reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
It could be said that, on this point alone, Blanc's coaching record over the past eight years had been brilliant enough to command everyone's respect.
This season, Paris Saint-Germain had established an early advantage in Ligue 1. After ten rounds, they were already five points ahead of their rivals, with eight wins and two draws keeping them undefeated. But results like these had long since become routine.
Both Paris Saint-Germain's management and Laurent Blanc desperately wanted to break through in this year's Champions