Team Coach Profile: Henri Michel

Michel will lead Cote D’Ivoire to their first ever World Cup, even though he is far from well loved on the streets of Abidjan.

Many were calling for his head after a 3-2 World Cup 2006 qualifying defeat to Cameroon that left the Elephants looking down and out on the road to Germany.

But Michel lucked out when Cameroon failed to beat Egypt in their final qualifier, and gained further credentials by leading Cote D’Ivoire to the 2006 MTN Africa Cup of Nations final, knocking out Cameroon and Nigeria along the way.

Michel has coached the French national team, but was sacked in 1990 after losing to Cyprus.

He also coached Morocco and Tunisia, guiding Tunisia to the 2002 World Cup but being sacked before the finals, after a poor MTN Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.