• Ligue 1

Makelele gets first managerial job

ESPN staff
May 24, 2014
Chelsea lose David Luiz to PSG

Former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has taken up his first managerial position at Ligue 1 side Bastia.

The 41-year-old spent five years at Stamford Bridge before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, where he was a player for three years before retiring in 2011 and taking up a position as assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti and then Laurent Blanc.

Bastia, based on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, finished in 10th last season - 12 points outside the Europa League qualifying spots.

Chelsea exits

Cole and Lampard have 988 Chelsea appearances between them © Getty Images
  • Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole look set to be on their way out of Stamford Bridge after the England pair were part of a list of released players handed to the Premier League on Friday.
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  • Also on his way out of west London is David Luiz, after Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain agreed terms on a £40 million deal taking the Brazilian to the French champions.
  • Click here to continue reading

The club announced the news in a statement on Saturday: "Bastia are pleased to announce that Claude Makelele will be trainer for the next two seasons.

"He will arrive in Bastia on Monday, when he will sign his contract before being presented to the press the following day at 11am.

"He will be assisted in his task by Didier Tholot. The great family of Sporting Club de Bastia welcomes them both."

PSG released a statement of their own, with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi thanking the former France international for his hard work during his time at the Parc des Princes.

"On behalf of the whole Paris Saint-Germain family and myself, I would like to thank Claude for his important contribution to our team's brilliant results, both in France and in Europe," Al-Khelaif said.

"We are all conscious of his role he played alongside Laurent Blanc and Carlo Ancelotti in the remarkable progression of the team.

"Claude always showed his attachment to the club and was always totally committed to serving our professional first team. In despite of our wishes to keep him here with us, I understand his desire to take the next step in his career and become the head coach of a Ligue 1 club.

"I wish him all the very best in his new position and congratulate the Sporting Club de Bastia for offering Claude such a deserved role. The Parc des Princes will always remain his home, where the fans will remember the elegance and quality of his football for years to come."

Claude Makelele's final game for Chelsea was the Champions League final defeat to Manchester United © PA Photos
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