Gérald Baticle favourite to succeed Thierry Henry as France U21 manager | OneFootball

Thierry Henry stepped down as France U21 manager on Monday, in the wake of the recently-concluded Paris Olympic Games. L’Équipe understands that his assistant, Gérlad Baticles, is the favourite to succeed the former Montréal Impact and AS Monaco manager.

Henry’s resignation came as a surprise. It came just a matter of days after France won silver at the Olympic Games, losing to Spain in the final of the competition. After just a year in the role, he cited personal reasons as he departed, as confirmed in a press release from the FFF.

That same press release stated that the FFF, through President Philippe Diallo, were already engaged in the search for his successor. That search may already be over. The FFF haven’t looked very far, no further than Henry’s now-former assistant, Baticles, whose most recent role in club management came at SCO Angers.

The appointment of Baticles would allow Les Bleuets to keep other members of the staff, including Gaël Clichy, Jérémie Janot and Alan Berrou, which would help retain multiple elements of continuity. Whilst Baticle is the outstanding favourite, no decision has yet been taken and other candidates will be studied in the coming hours and days as the FFF look to make a quick appointment.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle