Girard inks three-year Lille deal

New Lille boss Rene Girard has signed a three-year contract with the French Ligue 1 side, it was announced as he was officially unveiled to the press today.

“The length of the contract is three years,” said Girard, a day after his appointment.

“I am very happy to be here today. I know the club. What attracted me was the meeting with the president (Michel Seydoux). Lille are in the top five. Leaving Montpellier, I don’t think I could have a better opportunity,” he added.

Girard, who steered Montpellier to the league title in 2011/12, also said that his son Nicolas would serve as an assistant on his staff.

“It’s a resounding yes,” said Lille president Seydoux. “I knew the talent of the player, the talent of the coach and the results both as a player and a coach. What really pleased me at our first meeting was Rene’s intelligence. I have great confidence in his ability to adapt.”

The 59-year-old Girard, who was in line for the post with Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Swiss coach Lucien Favre, takes over at Lille from Rudi Garcia, who has left for AS Roma.