France’s World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps has said that the 2026 World Cup will be his last as the team’s head coach, bringing the curtains down on a 14-year long run which included the 2018 World Cup win and two losses in the final of the 2022 World Cup and the 2016 European Championships.
Deschamps’ reign saw France become one of the best teams in the world, with a squad that was feared for its incredible depth of quality players in every position.
“I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled until 2026, the next World Cup, but it will stop there because it has to stop at some point.” The 1998 World Cup-winning captain added, “It could be [seen as] an announcement, even though I’m not here for that. 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.”
Deschamps reign as French manager had its fair share of ups and downs. His disagreement with Karim Benzema that kept the Ballon d’Or winner out of history-making French team was one of these key decisions made where the overall squad cohesion was given precedence over the talent of one individual.
“To have been here already for as many years as I have, and to go until 2026, that will be 14 years so that will be a lot. We never want it to end when it’s a beautiful thing, but we also have to know how to say stop, there is a life after. I don’t know what it will be, but it will be very good too.
“Afterwards, the most important thing is that the French team remains at the top, as it has been for many years.”
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