BBC SPORTArabicSpanishRussianChinese
BBCiNEWS  SPORT  WEATHER  WORLD SERVICE  A-Z INDEX   SEARCH 

BBC Sport
 You are in: Football: Teams: Man Utd 
Sport Front Page
-------------------
Football
Teams
Statistics
FA Cup
Eng Prem
Internationals
Champions League
Uefa Cup
Eng Div 1
Eng Div 2
Eng Div 3
Eng Conf
Scot Prem
Scottish Cup
Scot Div 1
Scot Div 2
Scot Div 3
Europe
Africa
League of Wales
Cricket
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
Boxing
Athletics
Other Sports
-------------------
Special Events
-------------------
Sports Talk
-------------------
BBC Pundits
TV & Radio
Question of Sport
-------------------
Photo Galleries
Funny Old Game
-------------------
Around The UK: 
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales

BBC Sport Academy
News image
BBC News
News image
BBC Weather
News image
SERVICES
-------------
LANGUAGES
EDITIONS

Wednesday, 3 July, 2002, 11:59 GMT 12:59 UK
Blanc stays at Man Utd
Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc had planned to retire
French defender Laurent Blanc has agreed a new one-year deal with Manchester United.

The 36-year-old had planned to retire at the end of last season after joining United from Inter Milan.

But manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been linked with moves for Lazio's Alessandro Nesta and Rio Ferdinand of Leeds, persuaded Blanc to stay at Old Trafford.

"We are delighted," Ferguson said.

"Laurent has been at the World Cup and we have been waiting his return. It has simply been a matter of agreeing with agents."

Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson persuaded Blanc to stay

Blanc, who was heavily criticised for his form at the start of last season, was delighted to be staying at the club.

"I am very happy and can't wait for the new season to start," he said.

When Blanc joined United in August last year he insisted he would play only one season before hanging up his boots.

In February this year he revealed his managerial ambitions and confirmed he would not backtrack on his decision to retire.

But Ferguson was determined for Blanc to stay and try and win the Champions League, the one major trophy that has eluded him during an illustrious career.

Blanc's career began with Montpellier in 1983 and he went on to play for Barcelona and Lazio.

He won the World Cup with France in 1998 and the European Championship two years later.

Click here for all the latest from the My Club section

News and Statistics

Match coverage

Daily club news
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more Man Utd stories are at the foot of the page.


News image
News imageE-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Man Utd stories

News imageNews imageNews image
News image
© BBCNews image^^ Back to top

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports |
Special Events | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Question of Sport |
Photo Galleries | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales