Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
France coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will retire after the 2026 World Cup in 18 months’ time.
Deschamps, who won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, spent 13 years in the job but says he will leave when his current contract expires after next summer’s tournaments in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His former teammate Zinedine Zidane is the favorite to replace him.
Deschamps, 56, told TF1: “I have been here since 2012 and I will stay until 2026 and the next World Cup. But it will end there because it has to. It’s clear in my mind. 2026, it’s good.
“You never want something to end well, but you have to know when to stop. There is life after this, I don’t know what, but it will still be very good. Fourteen years is a long time. The most important thing is that France stays at the top, as it has been for several years.”
Successful transition to a coaching job
After a wonderful playing career that saw him win the Champions League with Marseille and three Serie A titles with Juventus, as well as the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, Deschamps began his managerial career at Monaco, leading them to the 2004 Champions League final.
After guiding Juve to promotion back to Serie A and Marseille to the Ligue 1 title, he took over as France coach in July 2012.
After reaching the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Les Bleus were favorites to win Euro 2016 on home soil, but fell short against Portugal in the final.
Success in Russia
Redemption happened at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with France winning the title after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final.
A round of 16 exit at Euro 2020 was a disappointment, but France performed well at the 2022 World Cup, beating England en route to the final where they lost on penalties to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Deschamps was widely criticized for his tactics after France were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 and his side managed just four goals in six games in Germany.
