With the Laurent Blanc saga over, Bordeaux shifts its attention to finding the coach who can get les Girondins back into Europe. If Ligue 1’s recent manager of the year voting is any guide, Bordeaux is starting their search at the top of the managerial pool.

Jean Fernandez led Auxerre to third place and the edge of Champions League, posting the league’s best defensive record (by some distance, seven goals). The club will be seeded in the UEFA Champions League preliminary round – the last step before group play – but Fernandez may not be with the team by then, as he is being pursued by Bordeaux as Blanc’s replacement.

Those reports, per France Football, claim Bordeuax had been pursuing the likes of Jean Tigana, Eric Gerets and Roland Courbis, all of whom are not out of the running, some reportly demanding excessive wages.

Bordeaux is also said to be interested in former West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola.