Domenech to be new France coach

Paris:

Raymond Domenech was selected as the new coach of Les Bleus on Monday, replacing Jacques Santini as the leader of France's national soccer team. French Football Federation president Claude Simonet announced the appointment at their headquarters in Paris, saying Domenech won the job over former internationals Laurent Blanc and Jean Tigana. Contract details have yet to be finalised, but Simonet wants to include a clause pinning contract renewal on getting the team "at least" as far as the World Cup semifinals and the qualifying round of the next European championship in 2008. A former defender who won eight caps for France, Domenech has coached the under-21 team since 1993 and led the junior team to the European Championship final in 2002. 'Right credentials According to Simonet, Domenech has the right credentials, partly because he has already coached the French junior team, many of whose players are now in the senior side. The new coach admitted that things would get tough after the honeymoon period of his selection was over. Domenech is known as ambitious, tough-talking and straightforward. Born and raised in central city of Lyon, Domenech started his professional career with Olympique Lyonnais in 1971 and went on to win the French Cup in 1973. He later played for Strasbourg, Paris Saint-Germain and finally Bordeaux, winning the French championship in 1984 - his last division-one season. (AP)