Mavuba named Bordeaux coach with aim to be best runner-up | OneFootball

Rio Mavuba has been propelled into the Bordeaux dugout, more out of duty than ambition, aiming to finish the best runner-up in National 2. According to L'Équipe, he will be unveiled to the media on Thursday morning after Bruno Irles was suspended on Sunday.

The 42-year-old starts away at Locminé on Saturday. Former team-mate Ludovic Obraniak said many expected the call, adding the choice fits Mavuba’s story, while also praising his chess-like thinking, though he could see him as a director.

Born at sea while fleeing Angola’s civil war, he found a home with the Girondins. He joined at eight, entered the academy at 14, was a ball boy when Manchester United won 2-1 in the Champions League, then captained the first team.

Two seasons ago he and Paul Baysse returned to prevent a reserves forfeit in N3. He has since led the under-15s and the elite pre-formation, coaching his son Tiago. The 13-cap former France international holds the BEF, DES and DEPS, and chose the BEFF for development over the BEPF for first-team management.

Former reserve coach Jean-Louis Garcia points to his collective mindset and calm authority, and believes he could grow into the role. His seven-match stint offers little margin for error.

Bordeaux have lost two on the spin and trail leaders La Roche-sur-Yon by six points with a game in hand, so the focus is on second, which Garcia notes could still yield promotion if the DNCG orders demotions in National, the FFF’s planned professional Ligue 3.

Source: L'Équipe