French Roundup

Halilhodzic agrees to coach PSG next season

PARIS (Reuters) -- Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic has agreed to coach Paris St Germain next season, replacing departing manager Luis Fernandez, the PSG president said Tuesday.

"Vahid Halilhodzic has agreed to coach PSG on a four-year contract. We talked until late last night and we fixed the last details this morning," Francis Graille told Reuters.

Stade Rennes, whom Halilhodzic had been coaching this season, announced Monday that he was leaving the Brittany club.

"Vahid Halilhodzic has advised Stade Rennes that he did not intend to remain the club's sports manager next season," the Ligue 1 club said in statement.

Graille, who chaired Lille two seasons ago when Halilhodzic trained the northern team, met Halilhodzic on Monday afternoon at the headquarters of pay TV channel Canal Plus, which owns the Parisian club.

The Bosnian's contract has not yet been signed but should be finalised on Wednesday at a PSG board meeting when Graille officially takes over from departing president Laurent Perpere.

Halilhodzic, 50, had also received an offer from Atletico Madrid which he turned down.

Leboeuf to go to Qatari club

MARSEILLE, France (AP) -- Former France defender and Olympique de Marseille captain Frank Leboeuf said Tuesday that he has signed a contract with Qatari club Al-Saad for next season.

"They offered it to me, and why not should I not enjoy myself for my last season," the veteran said.

Leboeuf told the French sports Internet site "sports.fr." that he went to Qatar personally to sign the deal and kept Marseille trainer Alain Perrin aware of his plan.

Leboeuf, who was defender on the world champion French national team of 1998, said he was wanted to take on a new challenge by joining a club that includes Brazilian attacker Romario.

He did not reveal the amount of his contract.

"It's true that a few weeks ago, I was seriously thinking about quitting soccer," he said. "But then, a month and a half ago, they proposed that I come and play here."

Leboeuf, who has been hobbled by injuries this year, said it was probable that he would only play one more season.

"What's for sure is that I've signed for one year," he said. "After, we'll see, but for now it seems that it will be my last year as a professional soccer player."

Leboeuf might be joined by former Bayern Munich captain Stefan Effenberg, who also could play his final season in lucrative Qatari football after apparently running out of options in Germany.

The veteran midfielder was thought to have retired in April after quitting Wolfsburg following a disagreement with coach Jurgen Rober. But he now looks set to carry on for another year after receiving an offer from an undisclosed team.

 

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