Didier Deschamps, the renowned French football coach, has announced that he will step down as the head coach of the French national team after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on Wednesday, Deschamps revealed his plans to depart from his position after the 2026 World Cup. “It will be 2026,” he stated unequivocally. “I have been there since 2012, it is planned that I will be there until 2026… the next World Cup.”
Deschamps, who has been at the helm of the French national team since 2012, emphasized that his decision to step down is not taken lightly. “It will end there because it has to end at some point. It’s clear in my mind,” he explained. “I have done my time, with the same desire, the same passion to keep the France team at the highest level, but 2026 is good.”
Under Deschamps’ leadership, France has experienced unparalleled success, including their 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia. He also guided the team to the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they narrowly lost to Argentina on penalties.
As a player, Deschamps had an illustrious career, captaining France to World Cup victory in 1998.
He is one of only three individuals to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a coach, alongside the late Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer of Germany.
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