Bini gives France fresh lead
Friday, February 16, 2007
Article summary
Bruno Bini, who led France to the 2003 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship title, has taken over from Elisabeth Loisel as coach of the senior squad.
Article body
U19 triumph
Bini, 52, succeeds Elisabeth Loisel having been technical manager of the Région de la Ligue de Méditerrannée, but made his reputation in coaching France to victory at the 2003 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship and leading them to the final a year before. Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi and midfielder Elise Bussaglia are among the graduates from his squads in the current senior side.
Loisel reign
Loisel, who began her reign in July 1997, has stepped down after England pipped Les Bleues to September's FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2003 she became the first coach to take France to those finals, and also qualified for the UEFA European Women's Championship in 2001 and 2005. However, a home draw against England ended their 2007 World Cup hopes and led to the retirement of France's all-time top scorer Marinette Pichon. A few days later Loisel herself admitted to thinking of "other challenges".
EURO campaign
Bini, who beat current youth coaches Guy Ferrier and Jean Gallice to the position, will oversee the team for the first time on 28 February when France play China. From 7-14 March they compete in the Algarve Cup, taking on Denmark, Germany and Norway in their group, before beginning their EURO qualifying campaign on 11 April against Greece in Valence, with Iceland, Serbia and Slovenia also standing between them and a place in Finland 2009.
