Exclusive: Laurent Blanc Emerges as Surprise Contender for Manchester United Manager Role

Laurent Blanc wants an immediate return to management and has emerged as an unlikely contender on the Manchester United shortlist, SportsBoom can reveal.

The former Red Devils’ legend and World Cup winner was sacked by Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad just four games into the new season despite winning the double last term.

Frenchman Blanc took the helm at the club in 2024 and led them to the league title and King’s Cup a year later. The side had won three of their first four league games before he got the chop. 

And our sources have been told Blanc wants to waste little time in returning to top European management after his shock sacking. 

Blanc has twice been close to returning to Old Trafford as manager and it could be third time lucky for the 59-year-old as the pressure continues to mount on under-fire Ruben Amorim. 

The former defender revealed he was in the running to land the Red Devils’ hot seat in 2019 when the board opted for Ole Gunner Solskjaer to replace Jose Mourinho.

He was also a candidate back in 2014 when David Moyes was sacked by the club. 

Greatness Personified

Blanc is one of the most successful people in football and boasts esteemed careers both on and off the pitch. 

As a player he won the World Cup and European Championship with France and a Premier League with United. 

He also played for the likes of Barcelona and Inter Milan.

And he has enjoyed great success in the dugout as well.

Arguably his greatest achievement as a manager was his first when he won the Ligue 1 title with Bordeaux, setting a French record of 11 successive wins enroute to the trophy in 2009.

After the 2010 World Cup Blanc spent two years managing the national side before going to PSG, where he won a hat-trick of successive league titles in his first three seasons in charge.