Mankowski takes charge of France U21s
Monday, June 23, 2014
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"The deal is done," French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët said, confirming that Pierre Mankowski will replace Willy Sagnol as France Under-21 coach.
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Pierre Mankowski has been unveiled as the new coach of the France Under-21 side after Willy Sagnol left to take charge of FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
The 62-year-old is bidding to lead Les Bleuets to the 2015 UEFA European U21 Championship finals in the Czech Republic, with France six points clear at the top of qualifying Group 10 with two games to go, and in sight of a play-off place. "The deal is done," French Football Federation (FFF) president Noël Le Graët said at a press conference in Brazil on Sunday. "I decided the new coach [on Saturday]; it will be Pierre Mankowski."
Mankowski has been tasked with taking France to the U21 finals and leading them at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. A former top-flight coach in France, the one-time striker has worked on the staff of the senior France and Cameroon national teams, and led France to success at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Turkey in 2013, beating Uruguay on penalties in the final.
