New Zealander Simon Mannix becomes Portugal's new coach
Thierry Breton / Thierry Breton / Panoramic
The current coach of Biarritz (Pro D2), previously with Racing 92 and Pau, was appointed as the new coach on Wednesday.
After the departure of Frenchman Patrice Lagesque, author of very good work during the last World Cup, the Portuguese Federation was looking for a similar profile for the former French international (46 caps). Another Frenchman, Sebastien Bertrand, was appointed but eventually resigned for “personal reasons.”
But on Wednesday, Portugal announced the arrival of Simon Mannix (52 years old) as coach. The New Zealander, known for his volcanic temperament, was one of the key players in Racing 92's rise to the top 14 alongside Pierre Berbisier during the 2008-09 season. After two years in Munster, in Ireland, he then took over the position of technical director in the Baloise division, from 2014 to 2019. After missing out on his time with Bassin d'Arcachon (National 2), Mannix played for the fire service. With Biarritz Olympique, looking to stay in Pro D2.