Blanc wants France job

Former international defender Laurent Blanc has confirmed he is interested in the France manager's job and has been chosen as a candidate. France are looking for a successor to Jacques Santini, who announced just before Euro 2004 that he would leave...

Former international defender Laurent Blanc has confirmed he is interested in the France manager's job and has been chosen as a candidate.

France are looking for a successor to Jacques Santini, who announced just before Euro 2004 that he would leave after the tournament to take over at Tottenham Hotspur.

"I have been approached by Claude Simonet (chairman of the French Football Federation) and by Frederic Thiriez (head of the French football league)," Blanc said. "They asked me if I was interested in the job. My answer was immediate and it was yes."

Now 38, he is regarded by French media as the leading contender to succeed Santini. France's new manager is due to be named on July 9 when the French federation's board holds a regular meeting.

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