Tigana to replace Blanc at Bordeaux

Jean Tigana has been named as the new coach of FC Girondins de Bordeaux with his predecessor Laurent Blanc having been lined up to replace Raymond Domenech as France coach after the FIFA World Cup finals.

The 54-year-old Tigana has legendary status as a player at Bordeaux, winning three league titles and two French Cups during an eight-year spell at the club from 1981. "This is what my heart wants," he said. "I've turned down plenty of offers in the last three years: French and foreign clubs plus national teams. I wouldn't have come back for any other French side apart from Bordeaux."

Tigana, part of the France team which won EURO '84 on home soil, has previously coached Olympique Lyonnais, AS Monaco FC, Fulham FC and Beşiktaş JK, his last such job in 2007. He added: "My aim is to return Bordeaux to the Champions League. I admire coaches like Arsène Wenger or Sir Alex Ferguson who have worked non-stop for years. I need long breaks to refresh myself."

Bordeaux confirmed several weeks ago that Blanc had been approached by the French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes to take command of Les Bleus ahead of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, though his appointment has yet to be definitively confirmed.

Blanc led Bordeaux to the 2008/09 French title but a sixth-placed finish this season means they miss out on Europe for the first time in five years.