Domenech takes over as French coach

RAYMOND DOMENECH, a French federation employee for the last 11 years, has succeeded Jacques Santini as the new France football coach on Monday.

And he vowed to put a smile back on fans’ faces.

“I want this to be the people’s team. I want to recreate joy in the side. It’s not my mission project, my mission is to win, but it’s one of my jobs,” said the 52-year-old, who has been France U21 coach since 1993. He was seen as a safe choice to work alongside 1998 World Cup coach Aime Jacquet, who is the National Coaching Director.

Santini left to become Tottenham manager when French football federation president Claude Simonet refused to extend his contract before Euro 2004.

Domenech beat World Cup defender Laurent Blanc and former Monaco and Fulham manager Jean Tigana for the job.

Blanc did not have any coaching credentials which made it well-nigh impossible for the federation, a stickler on diplomas, to give him the job, while Tigana is involved in a court battle with Fulham owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Santini, who had coached Lyon to their first league title, picked up the pieces after France’s 2002 World Cup debacle.

France won every qualifying match to reach Euro 2004 but were knocked out by Greece.

Santini later admitted he had been faced with a players’ revolt in Portugal and Domenech said his first job was to get everybody on the same side.