Lyon, France, Jun 22: Former Lyon and Arsenal player Remi Garde was appointed as Lyon's new coach to succeed Claude Puel on Wednesday.
Garde, who was heading Lyon's youth academy, signed a one-year contract with the seven-time champions.
“I'm very happy and very proud to accept the challenge the club has proposed to me,” Garde said. “I know it won't be easy, but I have every confidence in my staff and the players. I've been a part of the OL family for a long time now. It's time to start work.”
Lyon fired Puel earlier this week, ending the coach's disappointing three-year tenure at the club.
Lyon reached the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 2010 but hasn't won a trophy since Puel took over from Alain Perrin, who led Lyon to the league and French Cup double in 2007-08.
The 45-year-old Garde started his career with Lyon where he played nine years before joining Strasbourg then Arsenal. He returned to the club in 2003 as a staff member.
“We are here to win titles,” Garde said. “I'm in a big club and our goal is to find again the values and the state of mind that maybe slipped away from us.” AP
