French coaches are on a roll.

Three of the four major continental titles were won last year by teams coached by Frenchmen: France (Roger Lemerre), Cameroon (Pierre Lechantre) and Japan (Philippe Troussier).

Foreign managers have a history of failure in England, but Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) and Gerard Houllier (Liverpool) have won respect for their work. There could be three French managers in the Premier League next season. Jean Tigana is the manager of runaway First Division leader Fulham.

The Paris magazine France Football recently conducted a poll of former French Players of the Year to pick the top French coach of the last 100 years.

Here’s the top five French coaches.

1. Aime Jacquet (current age: 59). Led France to the ’98 World Cup title. Won five French titles as a player with St. Etienne and three as a coach at Bordeaux. Replaced Houllier as national team coach in 1993 after France’s shock elimination from the 1994 World Cup. Was heavily criticized for France’s indifferent form leading up to the 1998 World Cup, but that was all forgotten after France beat Brazil, 3-0, in the final. Now serves as the French federation’s technical director.

2. Albert Batteux (81). Considered the spiritual father of modern French coaching. Coached the great Reims teams of the ’50s and early ’60s (five league titles) and St. Etienne (four titles in four years, 1967-70). Guided France to third place at the 1958 World Cup.

3. Michel Hidalgo (67). Long-serving French national team coach (1976-84). Led the Blues to the 1984 European Championship title after twice coaching them in the World Cup. Produced one of the most exciting European teams of the modern era with stars like Michel Platini, Alain Giresse and Tigana.

4. Arsene Wenger (50). Has coached Arsenal since 1996, leading Gunners to league and cup double in his second season. Credited with bringing modern techniques to the insular British game. Previously coached Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.

5. Guy Roux (62). Retired at the end of last season after spending almost four decades as the head coach at tiny Auxerre. One of few coaches to stick with 4-3-3 formation. Also is a popular television commentator.

by Soccer America Managing editor Paul Kennedy