Laurent Blanc (born November 19, 1965 in Alès) is a retired French football defender, who scored the first golden goal in World Cup history. Blanc is considered to be one of the great centre-halves of the 90s. is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Not to be confused with Alias. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... The Bolton players in white are defending - the nearest player is trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... The golden goal was a method used in football to decide the winner of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of ordinary time (90 minutes). ... The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ...

For France, Blanc played in Euro 92, reached the semi-finals in Euro 96, and won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He was also well-known for kissing good friend and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez's head before the start of every match, supposedly for good luck (the two did repeat this ritual when they played together for Manchester United, only for Champions League matches). Overall, he recorded 97 caps and scored 16 goals for his country, a very large number for a defender. The most important of those must be the first ever World Cup golden goal, in the second round against Paraguay on June 28, 1998. He missed the World Cup final in 1998 after being sent off in the semi-final against Croatia for elbowing Slaven Bilić, although replays showed that Bilić had clearly feigned the injury. The Croatian was heavily criticised afterwards. The 1992 European Football Championship (Euro 92) final tournament was hosted by Sweden. ... The 1996 European Football Championship (or simply Euro 96) was hosted by England. ... -1... The 2000 UEFA European Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a competition between the national football teams of Europe held every four years and organised by UEFA, footballs governing body in Europe. ... Fabien Alain Barthez (born 28 June 1971 in Lavelanet) is a French football player who plays the position of goalkeeper. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cap (sport). ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had attempted to lure Blanc several times and finally succeeded in 2001. Despite his age of 35 years, Blanc proved a competent successor for the departed Jaap Stam and United fans nicknamed him "Larry White". He retired two years later, having helped his club to the 2002/03 F.A. Premier League crown. Sir Alex Ferguson (born Alexander Chapman Ferguson, December 31, 1941 in Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager, currently managing Manchester United F.C.. He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football and been in charge of Manchester United for over 1000 matches. ... Jaap Stam (full name Jackob Stam, born July 17, 1972 in Kampen, Netherlands) is a Dutch football player, currently playing for Ajax Amsterdam. ... The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays English Premier League for sponsorship reasons) comprises the top 20 football clubs in the league system of English football. ...

On June 8, 2007, Blanc was named new manager of FC Girondins de Bordeaux.^[1] is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... FC Girondins de Bordeaux is a French football team, playing in the city of Bordeaux. ...

Facts

• Blanc usually wore his socks in a distinctive manner. Unlike most footballers, he preferred them to be loose and only pulled them half-way up his shin.
• In his early career Blanc actually played sometimes as an attacking midfielder.
• Two years ago, the readers of France Football Magazine voted him the fourth best French player of all time behind Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane and Raymond Kopa.

France Football is a French bi-weekly magazine containing football news from all over the world. ... Michel François Platini (born June 21, 1955) is a French former football manager and midfielder, and current president of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations). ... “Zidane” redirects here. ... Raymond Kopa (born October 13, 1931), originally Raymond Kopaszewski, is a French former football midfielder, integral to the French national teams of the 1950s. ...

Honours

• 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship winner
• 1996 Supercopa de España winner with FC Barcelona
• Ligue 1 - Champion 1995/96 with AJ Auxerre
• 1990 & 1996 Coupe de France winner with Montpellier HSC & AJ Auxerre
• FIFA World Cup 1998 winner
• 2000 UEFA European Championship winner
• Internazionale Player Of The Year 2000 (Pirata d'oro)^[2]
• F.A. Premier League - Champion 2002/03 with Manchester United

European Under-21 Football Championship logo The European Under-21 Football Championship is football competition organised by the sports European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. ... The Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of the La Liga and the Copa del Rey. ... Futbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (IPA: baɾ.sə), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... Ligue 1 (Première division or Division 1 until 2003) is the top division of French and Monegasque football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. ... Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise, or AJ Auxerre, is a French football team, founded in 1905, playing in the town of Auxerre in Burgundy. ... ... Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French football club, based in Montpellier. ... Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise, or AJ Auxerre, is a French football team, founded in 1905, playing in the town of Auxerre in Burgundy. ... The 1998 Football World Cup was held in France, by the FIFA decision in July 1992. ... (Redirected from 2000 UEFA European Championship) The 2000 UEFA European Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a competition between the national football teams of Europe held every four years and organised by UEFA, footballs governing body in Belgium and the Netherlands between... The Pirata doro (Golden Pirate) is the award given every year since 1986 by the Inter Club of Seveso (MI, Italy), and it is unofficially recognized as the Internazionale Player Of The Year award. ... The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays English Premier League for sponsorship reasons) comprises the top 20 football clubs in the league system of English football. ... Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ...

References

v • d • e France squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Champions (1st Title)
1 Lama • 2 Candela • 3 Lizarazu • 4 Vieira • 5 Blanc • 6 Djorkaeff • 7 Deschamps • 8 Desailly • 9 Guivarc'h • 10 Zidane • 11 Pirès • 12 Henry • 13 Diomède • 14 Boghossian • 15 Thuram • 16 Barthez • 17 Petit • 18 Leboeuf • 19 Karembeu • 20 Trezeguet • 21 Dugarry • 22 Charbonnier • Coach: Jacquet