Rio Mavuba ‘to join’ Lille academy set-up after Bordeaux exit | OneFootball

Barely 24 hours after leaving the Bordeaux dugout, Rio Mavuba could return to Lille to take a role within the club’s academy, where several senior figures are on their way out. Sud Ouest reports that the former France international is close to joining the leadership set-up at his old club.

Approached by Lille at the end of last season, the 42-year-old chose to remain loyal to Bordeaux, delivering encouraging results, six wins, one draw and one defeat, despite missing promotion to Ligue three.

His contract was extended in early July, even as Bordeaux, six-time French champions, had just been excluded from all national competitions by the DNCG.

He decided at the end of July to leave, yet agreed to stay on until the CNOSF hearing on Wednesday, five August, so as not to further weaken the club’s precarious situation.

He was released from his contract by mutual agreement on Thursday, having served as Bordeaux’s head coach since late March.

A Bordeaux academy graduate and capped 13 times by France, Mavuba joined Lille in 2008 after a brief spell at Villarreal. He played 370 matches across nine seasons from 2008 to 2017, captaining the side that won the league and cup double in 2011.

Source: L'Équipe

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