×

Domenech Withdraws From Cameroon Coaching Job

Cameroon Football Federation has confirmed that former France coach Raymond Domenech has withdrawn his application for the vacant coaching job. The 61-year-old former France coach … Continue reading Domenech Withdraws From Cameroon Coaching Job


Cameroon Football Federation has confirmed that former France coach Raymond Domenech has withdrawn his application for the vacant coaching job.

The 61-year-old former France coach was among the almost 100 candidates vying for the job after the authorities launched a call for application last week.

A shortlist is being elaborated and will be published by the FA in few days. Reports say the list is likely to contain the name of England former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The Swedish coach’s first contract in Africa was with Cote d’Ivoire, whom he led to the 2010 world cup in Germany, where they failed to progress from the group stage.

Domenech who is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team,emerged surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country’s disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the eventual tournament-upset winners Greece. He was given the objective by the FFF to reach “at least” the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

France struggled in the qualifiers, even though the team was seeded in a group that included the relatively unheralded teams of Israel and Switzerland.

The Republic of Ireland were France’s main contenders in the group, and looked like contributing to France’s exit until Zinédine Zidane returned to inspire France to a 1–0 win at Landsdowne Road, ultimately ending the hopes of the Irish.

Domenech had to force Claude Makélélé, Lilian Thuram and Zinedine Zidane, members of France’s “golden generation,” out of international retirement to aid the national team to eventually qualify.

The general consensus in France, however, was that France was too dated a side to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup, despite the return of their cherished talisman, Zidane.