Jean-Claude Blanc is seen as a strong contender to be his permanent successor. England will struggle to win a trophy with Kalvin Phillips -As far as testimonies go, few come more complimentary for Jean-Claude Blanc than the words of Nice CEO Fabrice Boquet. 'He is a bit like the Lionel Messi of sports business,' he told L'Equipe. 'It is not only a question of expertise but of interpersonal skills. He brings his vision, his network, his calm, his experience.
' 'Stoic' is a word that sticks to Blanc, a character that can, at times, be too 'deferential' but is one that has a track record of inheriting messy situations and delivering greatness. 'He is extremely competent and he embodies everything I like on a human level, with real values,' Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère once said. 'He is frank, humble, efficient, pleasant on a daily basis. Jean-Claude ticks all the boxe