France football chiefs to begin ‘audition’ for new women’s national team head coach after firing Corinne Diacre
FRANCE’S football chiefs are to commence their search for a new boss for the women’s national team after sacking Corinne Diacre.
The 48-year-old was fired from her role as boss of France’s women’s team four months before their World Cup campaign.
The French Football Federation’ took the decision to sack Diacre due to what they called "a very significant divide with executive players".
Their move comes after three of the team’s biggest stars, including skipper Wendie Renard, stood down from international duty amid concerns about working conditions for players.
Before the sacking Diacre issued a statement through her lawyers on Wednesday hitting out at what she described as "a smear campaign".
However the FFF opted to end her six-year reign in a move backed by their executive committee.
In a written statement released on Thursday, the federation said: "The Executive Committee of the FFF, meeting this Thursday, March 9, received the conclusions of the commission commissioned by the interim president, Philippe Diallo, to draw up a report on the situation of the French Women's team, following the various positions of several players.
"The numerous hearings carried out have made it possible to establish the observation of a very significant divide with executive players and to highlight a discrepancy with the requirements of the very high level.
"This fracture has reached a point of no return which harms the interests of the selection.
"If the FFF recognises the involvement and the seriousness of Corinne Diacre and her staff in the exercise of their mission, it appears that the malfunctions observed seem, in this context, irreversible.
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"In view of these elements, it was decided to put an end to the mission of Corinne Diacre as the head of the French women's team.
"This change of coach is part of a new global ambition led by the FFF in favour of the development of women's football and the performance of the French team, which will have to achieve high objectives during the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics."
"Philippe Diallo asked the commission to audition, as soon as possible, the candidates for the post of coach and to formulate its recommendations."
Diacre’s sacking comes four days after France star Kadidiatou Diani, 27, slammed the "lack of professionalism" in the national team in an interview with French TV outlet Telefoot.
The striker, who has 82 senior international caps, revealed her team-mates could not take the current conditions anymore.
She said: “I find that we really lack professionalism in the France team, the staff is quite limited today.
“It is the coach who decides (training) there is no assistant coach or specific coach for the attackers when I would really like to work in the goal.
“It's important to have something new because the girls can't take it anymore,’
Diani’s interview followed her captain Renard taking to social media to announce her intent to step down from the national team.
In a statement published via her official twitter account two weeks ago, the centre-back, 32, wrote: "I love France more than anything.
"I am not perfect, far from it, but I can no longer support the current system, which is far from the requirements of the highest level."
Diacre, 48, whose reign as boss began in August 2017 led the team to the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals where they were beaten by tournament winners the USA.
And they reached the semis of last summer’s Euros where they lost to Germany at the Stadium MK last July.
Diacre’s spell has been dogged by controversy with the coach reportedly falling out with some of the team’s senior stars.
Midfielder Amandine Henry was left out of France’s 2022 Euros squad despite her standout Lyon shifts last year.
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This includes a player of the match display in their Champions League triumph last term.
It was reported Diacre had fallen out with the midfield star who captained France during the 2019 World Cup.