Vieira leaves Strasbourg after criticizing Boehly's project
Patrick Vieira is no longer the head coach of Strasbourg after just one season at the helm of the French club. The former Arsenal and France midfielder joined the club, majority-owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, following his departure from Crystal Palace. Despite a promising start, his tenure failed to produce the desired transformation on the pitch.
Vieira’s only season at Strasbourg was marked by mediocrity. The team finished 13th in Ligue 1, managing 13 wins, 9 draws, and 16 defeats. While they reached the Coupe de France quarterfinals, their league performance left much to be desired, finishing 10 points clear of relegation but eight points away from the top half of the table.
The club announced on Thursday that they had parted ways with Vieira by mutual agreement. In a brief statement, Strasbourg expressed their gratitude. “Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace and Patrick Vieira have ended their collaboration by mutual agreement”. Strasbourg president Marc Keller, who had initially sanctioned a three-year deal for Vieira, also extended his thanks. “We would like to express our gratitude and thank Patrick for the work he has accomplished during this first phase of the project and we wish him much success in the future. He will always be welcome at the club”, he said.
Reason why Vieira has left Strasbourg
Reports suggest that Vieira’s departure was not solely due to on-field results. According to French outlet L’Equipe, Vieira was critical of the club’s overall project, including player recruitment and the selection of technical staff. Sporting director Pascal De Maesschalck reportedly noted the lack of progress in the team’s style of play under Vieira. This further strained the relationship between the coach and the club’s management.
Vieira’s departure from Strasbourg is a notable shift, especially considering his vision for the club’s future. Earlier this summer, Vieira expressed his ambitions for Strasbourg, highlighting the connection with Chelsea’s ownership and aiming for European football within three years. “Now one of the owners is Todd Boehly, so we are part of the Chelsea family. The ambition is to play European football in the next three years. Of course, coming from this year, there is a big turn of young players, and this year was challenging and difficult – we struggled and went through some difficult periods.”
What now for Vieira?
As Vieira exits Strasbourg, his future remains uncertain. Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Vieira has already attracted interest from the USA, where the national team is seeking a new head coach after parting ways with Gregg Berhalter. This speculation comes despite Vieira’s previous statements focusing on his commitment to Strasbourg. When asked about the USMNT job after a pre-season loss to Fenerbahce, Vieira responded, “The United States? Ah no, my focus is 100% in Alsace (Strasbourg).”
As the USMNT searches for a new head coach, Vieira is one of several candidates. The team has also shown interest in LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo and Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy. Other high-profile names, such as Jurgen Klopp and Rafa Benitez, have been linked to the role, although Klopp has reportedly turned down the offer as he plans to take a break from soccer.
PHOTOS: IMAGO