GFFN relay reports from various French publications including Foot Mercato, RMC Sport, and L’Equipe that Patrick Vieira is set to be announced as RC Strasbourg’s new head coach.
Vieira reportedly has an agreement in principle with the Ligue 1 club, and he’s set to sign a three-year deal.
Strasbourg parted ways with their previous head coach Frederic Antonetti this week, and they haven’t wasted any time in identifying former Arsenal midfielder Vieira as a replacement.
The club have reportedly guaranteed Vieira that they’re aiming to push on and fight in the top half of Ligue 1 next season, rather than battling relegation as they did in 2022/23.
Since winning Ligue 2 in 2016/17, Strasbourg have generally finished in the bottom half of Ligue 1, ending up in 15th, 11th, 10th, 15th, 6th, and 15th across the last six seasons.
They achieved unexpected success in 2018/19, winning the Coupe de la Ligue against the odds. But they failed to follow that up by qualifying for the Europa League the next season, losing their final qualifier to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Vieira will now hope to help his new club push on and reach a higher level more consistently, once the move is made official.
Since ending his playing days, Vieira has managed the Manchester City Academy, New York City FC, OGC Nice, and Crystal Palace.
That last spell in the Premier League lasted just under two years and ended in March, with Roy Hodgson taking back over at the club.
Vieira had been linked with Leeds United, but it seems he’s set to return to his home country instead.