Lyon legend Juninho Pernambucano will return to the Ligue 1 club in the capacity of sporting director, confirmed OL president Jean-Michel Aulas on Saturday.
Juninho spent eight years at Lyon from 2001 to 2009, a stint that included a record run of seven straight league titles.
He became famous for his prodigious ability from dead-ball situations in particular, and reached 100 goals in 350 games before leaving for his native Brazil and Vasco da Gama.
The former playmaker finally called time on his trophy-laden career in 2013, aged 38, but he is now ready to re-enter football in familiar surroundings.
"We saw Juni two times at Los Angeles to obtain his agreement and we have it," Aulas told reporters following Lyon's final Ligue 1 game of the season, a 4-0 defeat of Caen.
"And he will come, even though there are some financial details remaining. He has a love story with Lyon."
Aulas went on to reveal that Juninho's countryman Sylvinho, who has been acting as Tite's No. 2 with Brazil, will take over from Victor Genesio as Lyon's coach.
As a player Sylvinho starred at left-back for Corinthians, Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City, but this will be his first appointment as head coach following several spells as assistant.
"[Juninho] chose Sylvinho as a coach. And we have his agreement too," Aulas added.
"He has the ambition and the talent. We had to convince him because he had a lot of offers".
No comments:
Post a Comment