I Want Coventry Job - Boloni

Last updated : 06 May 2010 By Covsupport news service. RD

After a day of speculation surrounding the identity of the the new Coventry City manager, the first applicant has publicly declared he wants the job.

Former Romanian international midfielder Laszlo Boloni, later the Romanian national coach, has publicly declared he wants to be the new Coventry City manager.

Boloni, aged 57, played 108 times for his country and was until recently the manager of Belgian side Standard Liege a club he managed from 2008 until 2010.

His managerial career to date includes French side AS Nancy (1994-2000), Romania (2000-2001) and Monaco, but was sacked on for lack of results.

Boloni sent his CV to Coventry City chairman Ray Ranson, who admitted he has been inundated with applications.

Boloni is unperturbed by the competition and is confident he is the man to lead Coventry City back to the Premiership.

In an interview with The Coventry Telegraph Boloni said, "English football is the best in the world for me and I have had the chance to play against top English, clubs Arsenal and Liverpool in the Champions League and Everton in the UEFA Cup, which was a very nice experience for us at Standard Liege. I am very passionate and have a lot of emotion."

"I spent a number of weeks in England last year and I want to work in this special atmosphere. I know it is not easy to go to work in England but I come from a French coaching background and know French coaches like Arsene Wenger who have succeeded there."

"I have a French style of coaching and a lot of experience in France, Belgium and Eastern European football in Romania and Hungary, but I have the capacity to adapt very quickly and I want this challenge to manage Coventry City."

"I know the Championship is more physical than the Premier League but I like the physical presence and at the same time I like to play good, attacking football. This is my style and I am ready to do a good job at the club."

As a player Boloni won the Champions' League with Steaua Bucharest in 1985-86, the UEFA Super Cup 1986, two domestic cups and three league titles. He won 108 caps for Romania, scoring 25 international goals from midfield.

As a manager he has won the Championship in his first season with Standard Liege 2008-2009, qualified for Champions League and UEFA Cup and won the Belgium Super Cup 2008 and 2009.

Earlier in his managerial career he won the Portuguese league in 2001-2002 with Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese Cup and Portuguese Super Cup the same year. He gave young players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma their debuts in top level football.

While working in France, he won the French second division with AS Nancy 1997-98 and won the Gulf Club Champions Cup in 2007 with Al Jazeera from the Emirates, and also managed the Romanian national team in 2001. He also manage to take another French club, Rennes to their highest position in their history in 2005 and reaching the UEFA Cup competition.