Vladimir Petkovic at Bordeaux, the beginning of the end | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Gérard Lopez’s move for Vladimir Petkovic in 2021 unravelled within 191 days, and Bordeaux’s slide towards relegation has lingered ever since.

Lopez took charge in July 2021 aiming for the top half and Europe by season three, then swiftly hired Petkovic, fresh from knocking out France at Euro 2021, on a three-year deal worth €300,000 a month.

The coach arrived days before the opener, with eight August signings led by sporting chief Admar Lopes bedding in. Cohesion was scarce, the first win came only on matchday six and, after 11 games, Bordeaux had nine points and had conceded 23.

Strains mounted amid complaints about repetitive training and a detached staff structure. In December Petkovic distanced himself from the board’s top-10 target, and captain Laurent Koscielny was frozen out before leaving at the end of January.

January brought player exiles, Covid cases after M’Baye Niang’s birthday and a 6-0 defeat at Rennes. Following a 5-0 loss at Reims in early February 2022, Petkovic was suspended with the side 19th. His 23 Ligue 1 games yielded four wins, eight draws and 11 defeats, a 17.4% win rate. David Guion arrived 10 days later but could not prevent the first relegation since 1991.

An employment tribunal later upheld his dismissal for gross misconduct on 29 November 2024. Petkovic and assistant Antonio Manicone appealed in January 2025 seeking €15 million, with a hearing date still pending. He led Algeria from 2024 to 2026 and was sacked this August.

Source: L'Équipe

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