Didier Deschamps set to step down as France manager after the 2026 World Cup 14 years since becoming manager in 2012.
Didier Deschamps, will step down when his contract expires after the 2026 World Cup.
The 56-year-old became the third person to win the World Cup as both manager and player in 2018 after taking over as head coach of the national squad in 2012.
He told the French TV channel TF1: “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 said: “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.
“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.”
After Euro 2012, Deschamps took over for his old teammate Laurent Blanc. Since then, he has led France to the finals of three major competitions, losing the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina in Qatar and finished second to Portugal at Euro 2016.