At the end of the 2026 World Cup, he will no longer be the coach of the two-time world champions, the World Cup-winning coach said.
Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge of the French national team’s dugout, gave a message in advance of departure. The World Cup-winning coach said that he will not be in this position after the 2026 World Cup.
The French Football Federation (FFF) told Reuters on Tuesday that the former defensive midfielder did not want to extend his contract after the end of his contract in 2026.
After the Qatar World Cup, there was a buzz about the future of Deschamps in the France men’s national team. However, the FFF signed him on a new contract until the World Cup in January 2023.
Deschamps made the announcement on French TV channel TF1. Nothing else as a reason, he said it was ‘time to stop’.
“It will end in 2026. I am clear about this to myself. I have been doing my duty with the same passion and desire to keep France at the top level; But 2026 (after the World Cup) is a great time to end. ”
“Everyone has to be in a position to decide [at some point] to stop. There is still life. The most important thing is to maintain France’s top position, as they have been for many years. ”
Deschamps joined France as coach in 2012, succeeding former teammate Laurent Blanc of the 1998 World Cup-winning team. He has been in charge ever since.
With his hand, the French reached the final of the European Championship in 2016. Although they lost in that final, they won the World Cup two years later. France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021.
Deschamps has won titles at all the clubs he has officiated before stepping into international football. Under his coaching, France also reached the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing the tiebreaker in a dramatic match against Argentina in the title fight.