Blanc scoops France's coach of the year award

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc on Sunday won the Ligue 1 coach of the year prize, voted for by his peers, a day after the capital club retained the French title.

It is the second time Blanc has won the award, having previously taken the honour when in charge of Bordeaux in 2008.

The 49-year-old saw his PSG side secure a third consecutive Ligue 1 crown with a game to spare on Saturday after they beat Montpellier 2-1.

Having already won the season-opening Champions Trophy and the League Cup, PSG can win an unprecedented clean sweep of the domestic honours by beating second-tier Auxerre in the French Cup final on May 30.

Hubert Fournier of runners-up Lyon, Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier and Guingamp coach Jocelyn Gourvennec were the other nominees.

Earlier at the awards ceremony in Paris, Lyon forward Nabil Fekir, who has scored 13 goals in Ligue 1 this season and recently broke into the French national set-up, won the young player of the year award.
Source: AFP