Luzon named as manager of Championship club Charlton

Luzon's career reaches new landmark.

By ALLON SINAI
Guy Luzon was named as the coach of Charlton Athletic of the English Championship yesterday, his second job abroad since guiding the Israel Under-21 national team. (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Guy Luzon was named as the coach of Charlton Athletic of the English Championship yesterday, his second job abroad since guiding the Israel Under-21 national team.
(photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Guy Luzon will only celebrate his 40th birthday later this year, but after guiding one of Belgium’s biggest clubs in Standard Liege, his career reached another landmark on Tuesday when he was named as the new manager of Charlton Athletic of the English second division.
Luzon was sacked by Standard Liege in October when the team was positioned in 12th place in the standings after winning just three of its first 11 league matches.
However, Standard owner Roland Duchatelet, who also controls Charlton as well as FC Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany and AD Alcorcon in Spain, kept Luzon on his payroll and promised him that he would hand him another opportunity at one of his other clubs when one should arise.
He lived up to his word on Tuesday after sacking previous Charlton manager Bob Peeters on Sunday.
Luzon, who signed a contract until the end of the 2015/16 season, takes over a Charlton team currently sitting in 14th place in the standings, 10 points off the play-off places, which could lead to Premier League promotion, and with one league win from the last 12 matches.
“I am happy to have joined Charlton and will work as hard as I can to try and make the club successful,” said Luzon.
“We have talented players in the squad and it is my job to try and bring the best out of them.
“It is important to have a positive spirit in the team and I want to ensure the entire group is fighting together for the good of the club.
“I look forward to taking training for the first time and getting my ideas across to the players.”
Luzon will be officially unveiled at a press conference at the club’s Valley Stadium on Wednesday and will take charge of the Addicks for the first time at Watford on Saturday.
Luzon, who joined Liege after guiding the Israel Under-21 national team at the European Championships in Israel, got off to a superb start at Standard, winning his first 13 games at the helm.
He led the team to first place in the Jupiler Pro League during the regular season, with Liege sitting at the top of the table for 35 consecutive matchdays before ultimately ending the season in second place.
“I think the appointment of Guy Luzon will prove to be a very good one for the club,” said Duchatelet. “I regard him as an extremely talented coach who has already achieved a lot in his career so far.
“There were a lot of records broken during his first season at Standard Liege and they had the best defensive record in the league.
“He is a passionate coach who will give his all to Charlton and I hope supporters will get behind him.”