Tag: Corinne Diacre

Henry turns down approach to be France women’s coach

France is looking at some big names for their women’s national team job

Credit France for thinking big when it comes to replacing Corinne Diacre.

According to Lyon owner and French federation board member Jean-Michel Aulas, he approached Thierry Henry to lead the women’s national team at this summer’s World Cup.

Board members Aulas, Marc Keller, Aline Riera and Laura Georges have been tasked by the French federation to sound out potential candidates to replace Diacre, who was fired last week after a player revolt.

While that group has sought out numerous candidates, the Arsenal legend has taken himself out of the running.

In an interview with Le Figaro, Aulas said Henry “considered it,” but ultimately opted to remove himself from the running.

“I personally asked him the question, but the response was not positive,” said Aulas. “He was obviously very flattered that he was asked. We did it because we were told he might be interested. But it will not be Thierry Henry. I think he is moving on to other projects.”

Henry was most recently an assistant coach on Roberto Martínez’s Belgium staff, and has a prominent role as a studio pundit for CBS’s Champions League coverage. Henry’s experience as a head coach has been limited to a rocky spell at Monaco (where he lasted less than four months) and one season as the head coach of what was then known as the Montréal Impact. Henry stepped down from the MLS side in February 2021, citing a desire to be able to see his children in London, something he couldn’t do at the time due to Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions.

On Thursday, ESPN reported that Henry has his eyes set on the other side of the Atlantic, with the 45-year-old apparently hoping to land the U.S. men’s national team job.

Prominent names still in the mix

The French federation hardly had all of its eggs in the Henry basket. Le Figaro‘s report says that Jocelyn Gourvennec, the former manager of the men’s teams at Guingamp, Bordeaux, and Lille, has spoken to the board about his vision for the role.

Diacre’s former assistant Eric Blahic, Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor, Paris Saint-Germain manager Gérard Prêcheur, Saudi Arabia men’s head coach Hervé Renard, and Paris FC’s Sandrine Soubeyrand — whose 198 caps make her a record holder for France — have all been in consideration as well.

Reports hold that France would like to hire a new coach as soon as possible, which is not a massive surprise given how close the World Cup is. Les Bleues have just two pre-World Cup friendlies scheduled, both of which take place in mere weeks. They host Colombia on April 6, and Canada on April 11.

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France fires head coach Corinne Diacre amid player revolt

The controversial coach clashed with many of her top players over the years

France’s striking stars have won their battle, as women’s national team head coach Corinne Diacre was fired on Thursday.

A French federation (FFF) executive committee recommended the action after a meeting, following a revolt against Diacre’s leadership by some of the French team’s biggest stars.

“This fracture has reached a point of no return which harms the interests of the national team,” the FFF said in a statement.

“Although the FFF recognizes the involvement and seriousness of Corinne Diacre and her staff in the exercise of their mission, it appears that the dysfunctions observed seem, in this context, irreversible.”

Last month, three of France’s biggest stars — Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto — all announced they would sit out this summer’s World Cup amid continuing dissatisfaction with the national team environment.

Diacre’s exit is part of a clear-out at the FFF, as president Noël Le Graët resigned last month amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Originally appointed in 2017, Diacre has clashed with a number of her top players over the years and has been accused of fostering a toxic environment with the national team.

“Winning a title with this coach seems impossible to me,” France goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi said on her international retirement in 2020. “We play in a very, very negative environment. I don’t see myself winning anything with this manager, and a lot of players think so too but don’t say it.”

Some of France’s biggest stars have been exiled under Diacre, including Amandine Henry, Eugénie Le Sommer and Gaëtane Thiney. Diacre also stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before restoring the defender to the role four years later.

Renard, Diani and Katoto did not mention Diacre by name when confirming their step back from the national team, but the announcements had the unmistakable air of a revolt against the coach.

The day before she was sacked, Diacre released a defiant statement accusing her detractors of slander and lies.

With Diacre now gone, it is unclear if the trio will return to the France setup. If not, it would be a massive blow to the team’s chances of winning its first women’s World Cup this summer.

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Despite player revolt, France coach Corinne Diacre is very much not stepping down

France coach Corinne Diacre says she will not resign amid a player revolt and a French federation meeting on her fate.

It’s unclear whether Corinne Diacre will coach France much longer, but one thing’s for sure: she’s not going to simply fade into the background.

The under-fire coach, who is widely seen as the cause of a player revolt within the France women’s national team, gave a defiant statement to the AP following speculation that she would step down from her post.

In a statement sent by her lawyer, Diacre lashed out at her critics, complaining that she has “endured, not without great suffering, the display of slander, untruths and ambitions of some and others.”

“My detractors have not hesitated to attack my personal and professional integrity without bothering with the truth,” added Diacre, who accused her accusers of “violence” and “dishonesty.”

“I will not let myself be affected by this destabilization operation, which does not take into account my sporting record, and whose only objective is a personal settling of scores.”

The France player revolt currently involves the team’s long-standing captain Wendie Renard, star winger Kadidiatou Diani, and standout striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who have all said they will not accept any call-ups for France until changes are made within the team. While their statements didn’t specifically call for Diacre’s ouster, RMC Sport has reported that the coach is at the top of the list of things the players want changed.

Veterans of past France squads, like Eugénie Le Sommer — one of numerous big-name players to clash with Diacre over the years — and Sarah Bouhaddi, have voiced support for the trio, as have U.S women’s national team midfielder Lindsey Horan (who plays in France with Lyon), Norway forward Ada Hegerberg, and former Japan international Yuki Nagasato.

Diacre’s position in the balance

Diacre’s term may not be long: Noël Le Graët, a key Diacre supporter, recently resigned as president of the French federation (FFF) amid his own set of scandals. Amid the fallout from that news was a statement from the FFF that they would hold a meeting on Thursday to sort out Diacre’s fate.

In her statement, Diacre certainly isn’t striking a note of someone who expects that meeting to go poorly.

“In view of the shameful media outburst of the last few days, I nevertheless wish to reaffirm publicly what I told the commission, that I am fully committed to carry out my mission and, above all, to do France proud during the next World Cup,” said Diacre.

The manager, in her sixth year in charge of the France women’s team, also thanked Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas — who is part of the FFF committee that will decide her fate — for what she claims is a willingness to recant public statements backing the players.

Per Diacre, Aulas is “ready to go back on his public remarks by considering the the situation with objectivity and impartiality.” Notably, Aulas has not confirmed this account of his position in any public forum.

A change of coach just months before the World Cup begins will be difficult at best to manage for France. The team has four pre-tournament friendlies before opening their schedule in Group F against Jamaica. While France will be strong favorites to advance out of that group, Diacre has never taken one of the world’s most talented national teams further than the semifinals at a major tournament.

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Scandal-ridden Le Graet resigns as French federation president

Allegations of sexual harassment and a national team revolt were too much for Le Gräet

Noël Le Graët’s troubled tenure as the French soccer federation’s president is over.

Amid looming allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, the 81-year-old resigned Tuesday at a meeting of the federation’s (FFF) executive committee. FFF vice president Philippe Diallo has been appointed interim president until June 10, the date of the federation’s next major assembly.

However, the FFF is not exactly chasing Le Graët out the door, with a public statement lauding the sporting and financial achievements it says took place on Le Graët’s watch.

“The FFF would like to salute the remarkable sporting and economic results of Noël Le Graët,” read the FFF’s announcement. “Since June 18, 2011, the date of his election, the men’s and women’s teams have won 11 titles and played in 6 international tournament finals.”

The FFF statement went on to say that despite the Covid-19 pandemic’s economic impact, the federation has “€56 million in equity,” and that they were able to set a new record by giving over €100 million to aid amateur clubs during this season.

The announcement comes after the French ministry of sports announced its intention to audit the FFF in September 2022 after allegations that Le Gräet had sexually harassed FFF employees emerged. Per Reuters, that audit began in mid-January, with Le Gräet denying any wrongdoing.

The FFF seemed to agree with his position, offering several rebuttals of the investigation while ostensibly announcing Le Gräet’s departure:

Regarding the audit of the General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), the FFF notes that this report does not mention any systemic failure, nor any breach of its sovereign missions. The FFF nevertheless notes that this report is based less on objective facts than on assessments which have sometimes led to a disproportionate denigration of the body.

The FFF also regrets the lack of a real adversarial procedure and the failure to take into account the many observations made by the Federation on the subjects which concern it in terms of governance and the fight against gender-based and sexual violence, with supporting figures and examples.

The FFF therefore wishes to reaffirm its strong commitment against gender-based and sexual violence as part of its license protection policy. This commitment was and remains a priority.

The harassment scandal is far from the only issue pertaining to Le Gräet. In light of the fact that his term as FFF president would end in 2024, he was widely criticized for extending Didier Deschamps’ contract as head coach of the men’s national team to 2026.

Le Gräet drew more public ire after saying that he wouldn’t even take a call from Zinedine Zidane when asked if the legendary France playmaker had a chance at coaching the national team. Le Gräet — who was accused of a “lack of respect” by Kylian Mbappé in the ensuing controversy — eventually apologized for what he called “clumsy” remarks.

Most recently, Le Gräet had staunchly backed Corinne Diacre, the under-fire women’s national team coach. That situation reached a turning point over the weekend, when team captain Wendie Renard and attacking stars Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto all said they would not represent France until changes were made.

Amid the fallout from Le Gräet’s resignation, the FFF will reportedly postpone a decision on Diacre’s status until a March 9 meeting.

Defiant Le Gräet still holds power

Le Gräet has indicated that he will pursue the “cancellation” of the sports ministry’s audit and claims through an attorney that he will sue sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra for defamation.

Le Gräet’s lawyer Thierry Marembert asserted to France 5 that the report “violated all the principles of impartiality, of adversarial proceedings,” and claimed that Oudéa-Castéra had manipulated investigators. “She lied and we are going to sue her for defamation,” declared Marembert.

Meanwhile, though Le Gräet may have left the FFF, he will still hold major sway in the soccer world. He remains a member of the FIFA Council, which is the main decision-making group at the world’s governing body in the sport.

In January 2022, Le Gräet was named as the Paris delegate for FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Per an FFF statement announcing Infantino’s choice, FIFA’s office in Paris will coordinate with national associations and provide “the strategic base for football development activities through the FIFA Forward program.” The Paris office is also home to the FIFA Clearing House, which the governing body created as part of an attempt to reform the global transfer system.

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Renard, Katoto and Diani demand change as they step away from France

Renard: “It is a sad day but necessary to preserve my mental health”

Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto are all set to sit out this summer’s World Cup.

France’s captain and one of the all-time great defenders in the history of women’s soccer, along with two of the best attacking players on the planet, all said they will be turning down France call-ups, citing issues with the management of the team.

Renard posted a brief note on social media stating that she “can no longer support the current system, which is far from the requirements of the highest level. It is a sad day but necessary to preserve my mental health.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I come with this message to inform you of my decision to take a step back with the French team,” continued Renard’s statement. “Unfortunately, I will not be playing in this World Cup in such conditions. My face may hide the pain but my heart is suffering… and I don’t want to suffer anymore.”

Shortly thereafter, Diani and Katoto joined Renard in posting statements announcing that they too will concentrate on club play only until things change with the France set-up.

“Following the press release from our captain Wendie Renard and in view of recent results and management in the France team, I am announcing that I am suspending my international obligations in order to focus on my club career,” said Diani’s statement. “If the necessary profound changes finally arrive, I will return to the service of the tricolor jersey.”

Katoto struck a similar note in her statement, saying that Renard’s decision had given her reason to consider doing the same. “The events of 2019, the hurt of 2022 and then recent events show me that I am no longer in line with the management of the France team and the values ​​transmitted,” said Katoto. “I therefore take the decision to put my international career on hold until the necessary changes are applied.”

Given Renard’s status as a leader and unmatched presence in the air, Diani’s world-class attacking play down the wing, and Katoto’s status as one of the premier strikers in the game, all three stepping aside has an enormous impact on this summer’s World Cup. It is also a clear indicator that the simmering troubles between the France squad, head coach Corinne Diacre, and the federation have finally boiled over.

Clashes with Diacre a theme

While none of the players specifically named Diacre, French outlet RMC Sport reported that her continued presence as the team’s head coach — in August, the French federation granted her a contract extension through 2024 — is at the root of the issue.

Renard has clashed with Diacre in the past, with the manager stripping her of the team’s captaincy in 2017 before restoring her to the role four years later.

Diacre has had public disagreements with numerous France players over the years. Eugenie Le Sommer and Gaëtane Thiney both had public falling-outs with the coach, while Sarah Bouhaddi said in 2020 that she would refuse to play for France as long as Diacre is in charge.

Diacre has made some notorious choices in terms of squad selection as well. She dropped Amandine Henry — who had gone public after the 2019 World Cup to talk about what she said was a miserable experience for the team — for what ended up being a disappointing Euro 2022. Diacre controversially left Katoto, the top scorer in Division 1 Féminine in 2018-19, out of the team’s World Cup squad four years ago, a decision that possibly proved costly given how their quarterfinal loss to the U.S. women’s national team played out.

Later on Friday, the French federation offered a terse statement that read as follows:

The FFF has taken note of the statements of Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. Its Executive Committee, which meets on February 28, will take up the issue on this occasion. The FFF would like to serve a reminder that no individual is above the institution which is the French team.

France’s issues under Diacre have not passed by without other international stars noticing. Megan Rapinoe was critical of Diacre’s tactical approach after the USWNT eliminated France in 2019, while Lyon star Ada Hegerberg — who amid a dispute with the Norwegian federation did not play international soccer for several years — tweeted her support for Renard shortly after the veteran center back posted her statement.

“How long will we have to go through these lengths for us to be respected? I’m with you, Wendie, and with everybody else going through the same processes,” said Hegerberg. “Time to act.”

Former Japan international Yuki Nagasato, who on Wednesday wrote about a lack of support from Japan’s federation after the Nadeshiko’s games at the SheBelieves Cup were not broadcast, said that she too had retired from international play over a lack of respect for the women’s game in a reply to Hegerberg.

USWNT midfielder Lindsey Horan, who plays alongside Renard at Lyon, posted her support as well. “So much respect for this. I hope Wendie isn’t the only one who will speak up,” said Horan shortly before Katoto and Diani announced their decisions. “When things need [change] you NEED more people around you. I hope the French federation takes the steps necessary or we will be missing out on seeing a legend during a World Cup.”

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