As Didier Deschamps prepares to step down after 14 years as France coach, the team eyes a third consecutive final and a fifth title in eight editions.
After an impressive 14-year tenure that saw France rise from their nadir to become one of the world's top teams, Didier Deschamps is set to bid farewell with a World Cup campaign. The French national team, currently ranked number one globally, will face stiff competition for the title in North America. With a chance to reach a third consecutive final after victories in 2018 and a heart-breaking loss to Argentina in 2022 via penalties, Deschamps is focused on securing his legacy.
Deschamps, now 57, was appointed in 2012 when France were struggling following the 2010 World Cup mutiny. Under his guidance, the team has once again become a formidable force. "It's a funny feeling," he said recently after naming his squad for the final time. "I usually try to hide my emotions, but I am fine with it all. What has happened is in the past and has been done quite well -- if it hadn't, I wouldn’t still be here after 14 years." His energy now is fully directed towards leading France to their fifth World Cup final in eight editions.
Deschamps' coaching career is marked by remarkable achievements. As a player, he captained France to the 1998 and 2000 European Championship victories. He also won the UEFA Champions League with Marseille in 1993 and Juventus, and later coached Monaco to the final of Europe's elite club competition in 2004. His managerial career includes a French title with Marseille in 2010.
The upcoming World Cup will be Deschamps' seventh major tournament as coach, with one title and two defeats in finals, including a semi-final appearance at Euro 2024. France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021, setting high expectations for his successor. Despite often favoring efficiency over style, he has managed to produce an exciting generation of players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise.
Deschamps' legacy is one of consistency and success. If France win the World Cup in MetLife Stadium on July 19, he will become only the second coach to achieve two World Cup victories, following Italy's Vittorio Pozzo from the 1930s. As his tenure comes to a close, Deschamps remains open to future challenges: "I'm not ruling anything out. I'm available, as everyone knows. We will see."
With France aiming for glory and Deschamps ready to go out on top, the upcoming World Cup promises to be an exciting chapter in French football history.
