Troussier bids for Lemerre's France job

Updated: Monday July 01, 2002 11:47 a.m. ET

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PARIS (Reuters) -- Former Japan coach Philippe Troussier and former French international Alain Giresse have expressed interest in taking charge of the French national team if Roger Lemerre is removed or steps down next weekend.

The French Soccer Federation (FFF) council is expected to announce a decision on Lemerre's future on Friday at a meeting in Lyon.

The former world champions suffered a humiliating first round exit at the World Cup in Japan and Korea, failing to win a game or score a single goal.

Frenchman Troussier, who guided co-hosts Japan to the last 16 of the World Cup, has been touted in recent weeks as a possible replacement for Lemerre.

"I'm among the candidates in case there are changes at the top of the French team," Troussier said in an interview with the lequipe.fr website.

"But I'm not the only one. If it doesn't happen, the fact I have been cited is in itself a great honour for me - it's a sign of acknowledgement.

"Otherwise I have not made a decision yet."

"I don't feel like going to a club," added Troussier, who had been approached by Olympique Marseille before the World Cup.

"I don't think I would be the right man in the right place. I'm more of a stimulator, a man of missions.

"I don't wish to go back to work every day Monday morning.

"Maybe in 2006, I will again do the World Cup with Japan."

Giresse, who coached Toulouse and Paris St Germain without great success, said he would also be interested in the job.

"I've always been interested in the job but I was far from thinking about it," Giresse told French radio.

"I was very surprised to see that a change of direction was considered and that I was named among possible successors to Roger Lemerre.

"But for the time being, there is a manager in the job. To blame all the failure on him is going a little bit too far," added Giresse, who currently coaches Morocco's FAR Rabat.

Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.