The 41-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Les Girondins and replaces Ricardo Gomes, who left the helm on Thursday to take charge of Ligue 1 rivals Monaco.

Assisted by Jean-Louis Gasset, Blanc is hoping to make an impact in his first job as a coach.

"What I've thought about Bordeaux for many years has been confirmed, " he said upon his arrival at the club.

"The club has exceptional infrastructure and we will use it. I believe that there is a common will to work well together and that will allow Les Girondins to progress again."

Bordeaux missed out on a return to the Champions League, and indeed all European football, on the last day of the Ligue 1 campaign, winding up in sixth place.

Last season, Bordeaux finished third in a Champions League group containing eventual finalists Liverpool, before dropping down into the UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out by Osasuna in the round of 32.

Despite Blanc's lack of coaching experience, the former centre-back can boast an illustrious playing career with clubs like Internazionale, Marseille, Barcelona and Manchester United, with whom he won the Premiership title in 2003 before retiring.

He also won the World Cup with France on home soil in 1998, although he was banned for the final, and then was part of the side which lifted the Euro 2000 crown.

A statement on the club's official website, www.girondins.com, read: "It will be a first experience as a coach for the former France international (97 caps), world champion and European champion with Les Bleus in 1998 and 2000.

"The club welcomes Laurent Blanc and wishes him every possible success."