Didier Deschamps has announced that he will step down as France men’s head coach following the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Deschamps is one of the longest-serving managers in international football, having been appointed to the role in 2012. He has overseen a successful period with the national team, winning the World Cup in 2018 as France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final.
He led the side to a second successive World Cup final in Qatar in December 2022, though his team was defeated on penalties by Argentina after extra-time. The 56-year-old also counts the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League among his list of honours.
“It’s going to be 2026,” Deschamps told French broadcaster TF1. “I’ve been here since 2012, I’m expected to be here until 2026… the next World Cup. It’ll stop there, because it has to stop at some point. It’s clear in my head.
“I’ve done my time, with the same desire, the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is very good.
“You never want it to end when it’s a beautiful thing, but you have to know how to say stop. There’s a life afterwards, I don’t know what it will be, but it will be very good too.”
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Deschamps began his managerial career with Monaco, before taking over at Juventus for the 2006-07 season, guiding the side back to Serie A after the Calciopoli scandal saw them relegated to Serie B. He returned to Ligue 1 with Marseille in 2009 and spent three seasons with the club.
As a player, he won the Champions League with Monaco in 1993 and claimed three Serie A titles with Juventus. Deschamps was capped 103 times by France and captained the team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Deschamps will be looking to go out on a high note by leading France to its third World Cup next year. The tournament will be hosted across three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — and will feature 48 nations for the first time.
(Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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