Didier deschamps retires after 14 years as France manager
Didier Deschamps bows out: “The French team will be missed”
After 14 years and 185 matches in charge, Didier Deschamps steps down as France manager following a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup.
Fourteen years of leadership culminated in a rollercoaster final match for Didier Deschamps. The outgoing France manager oversaw his team’s World Cup 2026 campaign in the small final against England, where the Bleus fought back from a 4-0 halftime deficit before ultimately falling to a 4-6 defeat in a thrilling encounter.
“Today has been a particularly emotional day for me, given everything the French team has meant in my life — even if all good things must come to an end,
he told beIN Sports. The French team will be missed.
Deschamps departs with an impressive record: 120 wins, 35 draws, and 30 losses, including lifting the World Cup trophy while falling short in two major finals — Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
“I enjoyed every moment”
Even in his farewell press conference, Deschamps maintained his high standards when assessing his team’s performance. “The first half was disastrous, he admitted. After that, pride kicked in, and we nearly turned a dire situation around. These players are world-class, young, and have the potential to keep progressing. They have what it takes to remain at the top.”
Despite the disappointment, the departing manager publicly praised his squad, visibly moved: “I thanked them because there’s this disappointment from the semi-final loss, but also a sense of pride. They must always carry that fire under the France jersey — nothing compares to it. I thanked them as people too, because I’ve enjoyed every moment during these weeks, especially the exchanges with both young and experienced players. The future looks bright for them.”
He leaves behind a young and talented squad, with most of its core players still in their prime for the next World Cup in four years. “Given the results of recent years, there’s an expectation, but it’s not pressure,
he said about his successor. They have the quality, but many other ingredients are needed. I’m proud of them, of everything they’ve achieved together, of a united group. I’m proud of my staff, and a little of myself too. It’s over for me, at least with the French team. I’m young, but first I’ll enjoy time with my family and rest. As I always say, the best is yet to come.”