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Didier Deschamps to resign as France Manager after 2026 World Cup
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Didier Deschamps announces today that he will leave the France manager’s job after the 2026 World Cup, closing a great era in the nation’s football history.
Deschamps took on the role in 2012 after Laurent Blanc resigned and led them to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 Euros.
The 56-year-old will leave ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico if they fail to qualify, and after it if they do make it.
‘I’m not here to make an announcement but it will be 2026. I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled until 2026, the next World Cup. It will stop there because it has to stop there at some point. In my head, it’s very clear,’ he says in a snippet of an interview with TF1 and LCI, which will be released in full on Wednesday afternoon.
‘I did my time with the same desire, the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level.
‘We never want it to end when it’s a beautiful thing. Afterwards, we have to know how to say stop. There is life after. I don’t know what it will be but it will be very good too. It’s going to be 14 years, that’s a long time too.
He led France to the 2018 World Cup trophy and has also reached two other major finals
Despite his success, he has not always been universally loved by fans who believe he could have made more of France’s attacking talents
Despite his success, he has not always been universally loved by fans who believe he could have made more of France’s attacking talents
‘I’m not here for the records, especially for the demands. The most important thing is that the French team remains at the top where it has been for many years.’
Zinedine Zidane is the heavy favourite to replace him, according to ESPN. He was Deschamps’ team-mates in their 1998 World Cup triumph and led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles as a manager between 2016 and 2018. Zidane has been out of work since his second Madrid dugout stint ended in 2021.
Despite being arguably their most successful manager ever, Deschamps has not been universally loved by Les Bleus fans due to his conservative style of play.
Nevertheless, his tournament success and 64.2 per cent win rate place him in the pantheon of great international managers.
They have reached the semi-finals of four of the six major tournaments that he has overseen and might have won the 2022 World Cup were it not for the brilliance of Lionel Messi.
He is only the third man to win the World Cup as a player and a manager after Mario Zagallo, Pele’s old team-mate and manager for Brazil, and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
L’Equipe reports that Deschamps made up his mind several months ago, with his contract expiring in 2026.
For a man of such a gilded trophy cabinet, Deschamps cuts a relatively understated figure and is seldom talked about in the same breath as other top coaches.
Zinedine Zidane has been named as the ‘heavy favourite’ to replace the 56-year-old boss
He will leave after the 2026 World Cup, or before if France fail to qualify for the tournament
Hugo Lloris, who captained France under him, described him as an ‘inspiration to the players’
Hugo Lloris, who captained France under him, described him as an ‘inspiration to the players’
He managed Monaco, Juventus, and Marseille before taking up the France post and had success with all three.
One of his greatest achievements was leading Monaco to the 2003-04 Champions League final with a counter-attacking style, helping players such as Patrice Evra and Emmanuel Adebayor to make their names.
In 2006 he took charge of former side Juventus, who had been relegated to Serie B after the Calciopoli scandal, and led them back to the top flight in his only season in charge.
He then took up the reins at Marseille, another of his former clubs where he had won the Champions League as a player, and delivered them the Ligue 1 championship in 2009-10, the only time they have won it since 1995.
France have occasionally been associated with high-profile tournament self-combustion, crashing out of the group stages in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, but he has at least made the knockout stages in every competition.
Hugo Lloris served as captain of the France national team under Deschamps and said of his boss: ‘He has of course tremendous experience as a player and a coach at the international level.
‘He is calm and collected and transmits that to the players.
‘He is an inspiration to the players. We have a great relationship between players and coach and it is not a coincidence he has been a coach for such a long time.’
Accra Hearts of Oak and Dreams FC will headline Matchday 5 of the Ghana Premier League when the two sides meet at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow, with both clubs seeking a result that could shape their early season campaign.
The encounter comes at a crucial moment for the two sides with the Phobians looking to recover from their first defeat of the campaign and Dreams still searching for their first victory after four matches.
The Rainbow lads started the season strongly but were beaten 1-0 by Karela United last weekend, while Dreams suffered a slim 1-0 defeat to Bechem United.
Hearts had earlier recorded impressive victories over Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani Gold Stars before drawing goalless with Bechem United, leaving the club with seven points from their opening four matches.
Their defeat at Karela United, however, means they will be under pressure to quickly return to winning ways against a Dreams side determined to make home advantage count.
Dreams, meanwhile, have endured a difficult beginning to the campaign and will see tomorrow’s fixture as an opportunity to change their fortunes.
The ‘Still Believe’ side have collected points from only their opening draws and are yet to register a victory, making the meeting with one of the country’s traditional giants an important test of their character.
Elsewhere, Vision FC will welcome Bibiani Gold Stars to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex today, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions.
Vision have shown encouraging form in the early stages, while Gold Stars will be seeking a response after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to newcomers Port City FC.
At the Debibi Presby Park, newly promoted Debibi United will face defending champions Medeama SC tomorrow.
Medeama finally opened their account with a convincing 4-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars and will be hoping that the result marks the beginning of a stronger title defence.
Port City FC will continue their impressive debut campaign when they host Bechem United at the Daasebere Boamah Darko II Park.
Basake Holy Stars will attempt to recover from their heavy defeat to Medeama when they host Berekum Chelsea at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
Aduana FC will welcome Swedru All Blacks to the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park after producing one of the weekend’s most notable results last Sunday.
At the Kpando Stadium, Heart of Lions will host FC AshantiGold ’04 in another meeting between sides coming off victories.
FC Samartex 1996 will meanwhile welcome Young Apostles FC to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, with the home side seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 would go into the annals of Ghana football as one of the darkest days for the Black Stars.
In an AFCON 2027 qualifier against The Gambia, the Black Stars did not only break the hearts of the fans, but conceded a defeat that left followers with sleepless nights.
Coming from a Matchday 1 defeat to the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake, the outcome of the second game against The Gambia was one that was non-negotiable.
It had the ability to spark a revival to contend for one of the slots for the next AFCON showpiece.
The Gambia is a formidable side but definitely, not one to have frustrated Ghanaians to watch in pain and awe the Black Stars lose a game from a winning position.
That is a possibility in the game of football but when the stakes are high in such cases, it becomes unacceptable to the fans.
And grievously has Carlos Queiroz answered the massive call for his resignation.
At his post-match press conference, he made it clear that bowing out was the easiest decision but insisted that would not solve the myriad problems facing the Black Stars.
For the coach to be fired two days after that declaration raises a lot of concerns as he seem to be aware of existing problems the FA may even not know.
Unfortunately, coaches over the years have always been sacrificial lambs in situations of this nature but when he talks about particular problems affecting the team, his sack leaves much to be desired.
That aside, it is important to also take another look at the country’s pool of players, both local and foreign based.
Some of us have been advocates for forming the Black Stars around the ever-present local players who may lack the skill, finesse and flamboyance believed to give the foreign based players the edge over their local counterparts.
The locals, however, compensate that with their commitment and dedication.
Sadly, it appears this consistent call have fallen on deaf ears and no one wants to give any attention to that.
If the fear is that results would be poor, then that would be no excuse again following outcomes of the Stars in their last two games.
From what was witnessed in Bouake and Accra, one can confidently boast that there isn’t much difference between the foreign based players and the locals.
If there is any, it would probably be the treatment given to the two sets of players.
The call on the FA now is to give major consideration to the local players. Any coach that sees no good in the local players must have no business handling the national team.
That does not also shut the door on the ‘foreigners’. We witnessed how the early 90s teams were beautifully blended to have a formidable team.
It is time the FA goes back to the basics. With the locals, there can be more camps, leading to improved cohesion. Any foreign based player invited must settle into the team quickly and make a difference. That is the only way to rescue the Black Stars from its free fall.
By Andrew Nortey
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