After eight years at the head of the French women’s basketball team, including a bronze medal won at the Tokyo Olympics in early August, Valérie Garnier will leave her post of coach, the French Federation announced on Friday (September 3rd). basketball (FFBB).
The latter justified its decision by a desire to give a new direction to the team in anticipation of Paris 2024, explained Alain Contensoux, the national technical director, in a press release.
Conversely, the federation extended, a few days ago, Vincent Collet, coach of the French men’s basketball team since 2009: he will remain in charge of the Blues until the 2024 Games in Paris.
Former player, Valérie Garnier, 56, took over from Pierre Vincent in 2013. In addition to Olympic bronze, she also won four European silver medals during her tenure with the Blue.
The failure of the France team in the final of Euro 2021 against Serbia – the fifth failure in a row in this competition at this stage – had caused some tension at the head of the federation.
“I was angry, because you can lose a final, but there we did not play. We were far from worrying the Serbs ”, explained Jean-Pierre Siutat, the president of the FFBB, while ensuring that this did not weaken Valérie Garnier.
Thinking about succession
The choice of the person who will succeed the latter at the head of the Blue has not yet been decided. The federation explains leading “A reflection on the new constitution of the technical staff of the French team”.
Valérie Garnier, for her part, could retain functions within the federation. “We wish to think about entrusting him with missions within the FFBB in order to continue to benefit from his expertise and his ability to transmit”, said Alain Contensoux.
After winning the bronze medal in Tokyo, the applicant stated that she had “A desire to return to the field a little” as part of a club. “I didn’t want to deal with it before because now was not the time. We will see. “
In addition to her tenure at the head of the France team, Valérie Garnier had also coached at a club in recent years: she led the teams of Bourges (2011-2017) and Fenerbahçe (2018-2019).