Ex Charlton Athletic and Liverpool star appointed at Champions League club

Former Charlton Athletic and Liverpool defender Djimi Traore has landed a new gig having spent the last few years nurturing talent with the Right to Dream academy.

Get French Football News reports that the 44-year-old is set to become the manager of AS Monaco's youth team in a head-turning appointment for the former player. Traore spent two seasons with the side as a player between 2009 and 2011 and will replace Damien Perrinelle.

Monaco's CEO Thiago Scuro told the outlet: "We have a new coach for the Groupe Élite, Djimi Traoré. We are very, very happy. He is a guy with a clear vision of the game we have, he’s also a former player at the club.

"He showed a lot of ambition to come here. He has a strong experience of developing players. He is coming soon. He will be the head coach of the Groupe Élite."

AS Monaco placed second in Ligue 1 last season and will compete in next season's UEFA Champions League as a result. Clubs that qualify for that competition also have academy teams entered into the UEFA Youth League, which would be an enticing opportunity for the former pro.

Traore is likely best known for his time at Liverpool, where he made 141 appearances between 1999 and 2006, starting the Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005 when the Reds came back from 3-0 down to win on penalties. The midfielder also won the FA Cup and League Cup.

The Mali international was a Charlton Athletic player after his career with Liverpool, turning out for the Addicks during the 2006/07 season. His stint, which started with a red card on his debut, was short-lived as he was allowed to leave the club by Alan Pardew halfway through his first season to join Portsmouth.

He would go on to represent Rennes, Birmingham City and Marseille before working as an assistant coach at Seattle Sounders in the United States following his retirement.