The Frenchman lives in Scotland and has experience in the dugout with Versailles
Gregory Vignal back in 2019(Image: SNS Group)
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Family back in France say he’s half-Scottish anyway.
And if it's a choice between getting a job here or returning home - there is only one winner for Gregory Vignal.
That’s the impact Scotland and our game had on him.
The 45-year-old spent a year here on loan at Rangers in 2004 but Glasgow left an indelible mark.
Vignal became a title winner at Ibrox, etching his name in history as part of their famous Helicopter Sunday triumph.
And now he doesn’t want to leave.
Despite a playing career that saw him win a Treble at Liverpool and experience the French, Spanish and German leagues, Scotland is Vignal’s adopted home.
And that’s why he wants to be a manager here.
He’s already worked in Rangers’, Dundee’s and Blackburn Rovers’ academy - and has helped develop some of Scotland’s top young players.
Five players in Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland squad - Nathan Patterson, Robbie Ure, Findlay Curtis, Krist Montgomery and Luke Graham have all been coached by Vignal.
He has already worked abroad at Montpellier, Marseille, Versailles and RFS in Latvia.
But having recently left his role as Blackburn’s Under-21 boss, Vignal wants a gig in Scotland.
A fully qualified UEFA Pro Licence coach, he’s adamant that - given the right opportunity - he can use the contacts and experience he picked up at some of the biggest clubs and with some of the best coaches in Europe to become a successful gaffer.
Vignal, who continues to live her with his family, told Record Sport : “People don’t realise that I still live in Scotland because I love the country and I love Scottish football.
“When I moved to Glasgow 22 years ago, it was amazing straight away.
“I enjoy the culture here and the people. I decided to buy some land here and build a house for my family. We're really happy.
“Now, hopefully a club in Scotland will have belief in me as a coach and give me a chance.
“It has to be the right club, with a chairman or sporting director who supports you in what you’re trying to do.
“They have to trust me in what I can do as a coach, in terms of philosophy and style of play, but also trust me as a man.
“I’m a foreign coach but I have the advantage of spending so much time in the UK and especially Scotland.
“My family keeps telling me: ‘You are only half-French and half-Scottish’.
“My dad is in France but he doesn’t want me going back there. He actually wants me to get a job here.
“I know the game here. But it’s about getting the right opportunity.”
Vignal believes he’s served his apprenticeship as a coach at the likes of Rangers, Marseille, Dundee, Blackburn and in Riga.
After getting a taste of first-team management at French club Versailles, he’s ready for more of it.
Having worked with the likes of Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and Alex McLeish, he feels he’s learned different traits from some of the best bosses in the game.
Vignal said: “I’ve been lucky in my career as a player to work with different types of coaches from different cultures. I’ve seen a lot of different philosophies.
“Now, I want to show my own way.
“I’ve experienced a good mix. I have a French background and I learned a lot from the likes of Houllier.
“But I always loved working with someone like McLeish at Rangers.
“When I do my presentation, I always talk about Gerard, Rafa and McLeish. I love Alex’s passion and I learned a lot from him.
“So let’s see now if I can put that together, as well as implementing my own ideas.
“I try to be really clear with my message to players.
“I’m an aggressive coach who likes to play exciting, attacking football in possession.
“I like the 4-3-3 formation. But I really like my teams to be compact.
“I think in my playing days, I proved I’m a winner especially at Liverpool and Rangers.
“That’s part of who I am. It’s difficult because with that comes a big demand.
“It’s a big ask at big clubs. There is no room for losers there.
“You have to prove every week that you’re capable of performing at a certain level to win.
“As a manager, if you can pass it on to your players, it’s a big plus.
“Obviously, you need their commitment and trust. But when you have that, anything is possible.
“I just want to prove to myself and other people that I’m ready. This is where I want to be.”
Motherwell enjoyed success under a foreign coach in Jens Berthel-Askou and have now followed a similar route with current boss Alfred Johansson.
Hearts and Hibs are trying to do likewise with Wouter Vrancken and Marink Reedijk.
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Vignal would love a similar opportunity in the Scottish game and says his record in developing young players should stand him in good stead.
He said: “I really enjoyed my time at Blackburn and I felt it was very successful.
“There were eight players from the Under-21 team who went on to play for the first-team, like Kristi who got into the Scotland squad.
“So I think we did really well with them, in terms of providing a pathway.
“I feel I have a lot to offer young players in Scotland.
“I’ve worked with many who are now involved in international football.
“As well as Kristi at Blackburn, I worked with Nathan, Robbie and Findlay at Rangers and then Luke at Dundee.
“I’m really proud of that. When you leave your own country to live and work abroad, you must show you can offer something different and I’ve done that.
“I love developing young players. It’s part of my DNA to help them.
“There’s nothing better than seeing a young player in the academy come through to be with the first team.
“Because I’ve been there myself as a youngster at Montpellier when I moved from there to Liverpool.
“It’s important for the club to know that you can rely on players in your academy."