Jocelyn Blanchard

Jocelyn Blanchard 2009

Jocelyn Blanchard ( born May 28, 1972 in Béthune / Pas -de- Calais ) is a former French footballer.

Career

The Frenchman started his professional footballer career with U.S. Dunkerque, where he played for three years. After his apprenticeship years he moved to FC Metz in the first French league. The three years in Metz were so successful that he was bound for the transfer fee of the equivalent of 6.5 million euros from Italian giants Juventus, where he played the next season alongside stars like Zinedine Zidane or Didier Deschamps. Since Blanchard developed a close friendship with Zidane. After the year in northern Italy, he returned to France for RC Lens. After four years at Lens, where he became a leading player and team captain, to Blanchard decided in the summer of 2003 for a change to the Austrian tradition club and 23 - time champions Austria Wien. He was a transfer target of the former Austria- coach Joachim Loew.

Also in Austria Vienna to Blanchard became the leading player and undisputed team captain.

In the 2005/06 season he was voted the best player in the Austrian Bundesliga. This season he celebrated with Austria and the championship title and the Cup victory. The Austrian won the Cup Austria with Blanchard in the seasons 2004/ 05, 2006/ 07 and 2008 /09. In May 2009 it was announced that the expiring contract of the French is not extended.

Blanchard then moved up to the 2009/10 season for SK Austria Kärnten. In the championship game on February 20, 2010 from his Exklub Austria Vienna, he retired to a broken ankle. At season's end Blanchard left the club who logged 2010 bankruptcy on June 14.

Since May 2011 Blanchard 's sports director of RC Lens.