Vladimir Petkovic, currently on a tour of Algerian clubs, appeared in court on Tuesday for his dispute with Girondins de Bordeaux, the club he managed during the 2021-2022 season, a collaboration that proved to be a failure on all fronts.
Absent from the hearing, the Algeria coach is claiming €15 million from the Aquitaine club. Girondins accuse him of serious misconduct, stating that in February 2022, at the time of his dismissal, he was passive in the face of declining results and also showed insubordination.
On their part, Petkovic and his then-assistant, Antonio Manicone, seek compensation for the remaining two and a half years of their contract (€4.9 million in salary and €1.2 million in bonuses for Petkovic, totaling €13.6 million with charges for Bordeaux, and nearly a million euros for Manicone), as well as €1 million for moral damages. In total, this amounts to €15 million. “A million euros per minute,” quipped Master Matthieu Barandas, Girondins’ lawyer, during the hearing, as reported by Sud-Ouest.
A record for the Bordeaux Labor Court
“This is the largest financial issue ever judged by the Bordeaux Labor Court,” said Master Arnaud Constans, representing the former Swiss coach and his former assistant. The lawyer, specialized in commercial litigation and arbitration, also represents the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and USM Alger in a dispute against CAF regarding jerseys in the Confederation Cup semifinal against RS Berkane (Morocco). The fact that FAF supports its new coach in this matter and has provided him with legal representation is a sign of its backing. The verdict is expected on November 8th.
