Forgotten Liverpool signing dubbed ‘next Zinedine Zidane’ set for top managerial job after quitting playing career
FORMER Liverpool star Bruno Cheyrou is reportedly set to become Lyon’s new sporting director.
The ex-France midfielder spent four years on Merseyside between 2002 and 2006 after joining from Lille for £4.5million.
He played 48 times for the Reds during his first two campaigns under boss Gerard Houllier, who had dubbed him the ‘new Zinedine Zidane‘.
But disappointing form say him farmed out on loan to Marseille and Bordeaux.
And he eventually left permanently for Rennes, hanging up his boots in 2012 after a stint with Nantes.
Since 2020, Cheyrou, 44, has been working his way up the ranks as a member of Lyon‘s backroom staff.
He even worked under Lyon football advisor and former Liverpool coach Houllier before his passing.
He is currently the Ligue 1 side’s head of recruitment, but RMC Sport are reporting he is set to assume the vacant sporting director position.
Lyon have not appointed anyone since Juninho Pernambucano quit in 2021.
And the club are in need of a boost after a dreadful start to the 2022/23 campaign.
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Following a dismal eight-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, Laurent Blanc’s appointment as manager has failed to improve their situation.
They sit ninth in the table, well adrift of the European places.
Their supporters will be hoping Cheyrou’s promotion can inspire them to improve on the pitch.
During his playing days, the former midfielder, who received three caps for France, was once likened to the legendary Zidane by Houllier.
After signing him in 2002, the then Liverpool boss said: “To me, Bruno has some of the attributes of Zinedine Zidane, he has his ability to pick a pass, and moves a little like him.
“Zidane is 29 and at the very peak of his game, while Bruno is just a youngster, and is still very much learning, especially about English football.
“Look at [Robert] Pires and [Sylvain] Wiltord at Arsenal. They took time, because the Premiership is so different to France.
“It is so much quicker and more physical. But look at them now.”