Didier Deschamps has declared that following the 2026 World Cup, he will leave his position as manager of the French national team, bringing to a close a highly successful era in the nation’s football history. Deschamps, who assumed the role in 2012 following Laurent Blanc’s resignation, led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup. He also guided them to the final of the 2022 World Cup and the 2016 Euros.
The 56-year-old will depart following the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, or earlier if France fails to qualify for the tournament. “I’m not here to make an announcement, but it will be 2026. I arrived here in 2012, and my contract is set to expire in 2026, the year of the next World Cup. It will stop there because it has to stop there at some point. In my head, it’s very clear,” he stated in a preview of an interview with TF1 and LCI.
“I did my time with the same desire, the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level. We never want it to end when it’s a beautiful thing. Afterwards, we have to know how to say stop. There is life after. I don’t know what it will be but it will be very good too. It’s going to be 14 years, that’s a long time too.”
Despite his numerous successes, Didier Deschamps has not always been universally popular with fans, some of whom believe he could have made more of France’s attacking talent. However, his record of success and 64.2% win rate places him among the most successful international managers. He has led France to the semi-finals of four of the six major tournaments he has overseen and came close to winning the 2022 World Cup. Notably, he is only the third person to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, joining Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer.
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Zinedine Zidane, a former teammate of Didier Deschamps during France’s 1998 World Cup victory and a three-time Champions League-winning manager with Real Madrid, is the heavy favorite to replace him, according to ESPN. Zidane has been without a managerial role since his second stint with Real Madrid concluded in 2021. L’Equipe reports that Deschamps made his decision several months ago, with his contract expiring in 2026.
While he has a remarkable trophy collection, he maintains an understated profile and is not frequently mentioned alongside other top coaches. Hugo Lloris, who captained France under Deschamps, described him as an “inspiration to the players.” Prior to taking the France job, Deschamps managed Monaco, Juventus, and Marseille, achieving success at each club. He notably led Monaco to the 2003-04 Champions League final with a counter-attacking style, nurturing the talents of players like Patrice Evra and Emmanuel Adebayor.
In 2006, Didier Deschamps took charge of Juventus, guiding them back to Serie A after their relegation due to the Calciopoli scandal. He also led Marseille, another of his former clubs, to the Ligue 1 championship in 2009-10, the only time they have won it since 1995.
France has had its share of high-profile tournament disappointments, notably exiting the group stages in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. However, they have consistently advanced to the knockout rounds in every competition since then.
Hugo Lloris, who captained the national team under Deschamps, praised his coach, stating, “He brings immense experience as both a player and a coach at the international level.
“His calm demeanor resonates with the players, creating a sense of composure. He truly inspires us. The strong bond between the players and the coach is no accident; his long tenure speaks to that.”
