Blanc, a prominent member of that fabulous 1998 side, although he missed the final through suspension, will replace Raymond Domenech in the top job after the World Cup finals in South Africa, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Thursday.
Only 44 but already a Ligue 1-winning coach with Girondins Bordeaux last year, Blanc was regarded as the favourite to become France coach in 2004 but the FFF ruled he was not experienced enough and picked Domenech instead.
Domenech was never popular with the fans, although he guided France all the way to the final of the 2006 World Cup, and has been booed at every match ever since the former world and European champions' shock early exit from Euro 2008.
Blanc's main advantage, however, was that he was there in 1998, alongside Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps and Bixente Lizarazu.
Most have become harsh Domenech critics, to the extent that FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes once called them a "lobbying group", and they did not understand the ruling body's decision to leave Domenech in place after the Euro 2008 disaster.
The reason why the FFF resisted the class of 1998 for so long was partly because they needed to assert their own power, which they did by naming Domenech, formerly the coach of France's Under-21 side.
"Blanc proved he was able to be in charge at club level but coaching a national team is a different job," warned D
