Didier Deschamps’ remarkable 14-year spell as France head coach is set to come to an end following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, closing one of the longest and most successful managerial reigns in international football.
Appointed in 2012, Deschamps inherited a France side still recovering from years of instability following the decline of the generation that lifted the 1998 World Cup. Over the next decade and a half, he rebuilt Les Bleus into one of the world’s leading national teams, winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup and reaching another final in Qatar four years later.
Deschamps’ first major task was restoring stability and developing a new generation of talent. France reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup before suffering heartbreak on home soil at UEFA Euro 2016, where Portugal stunned the hosts in extra time despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo to injury early in the final.
Two years later came the defining moment of his tenure. France claimed their second World Cup title in Russia, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final. Built on defensive organisation, tactical discipline and the emergence of a teenage Kylian Mbappé, the squad also featured key figures such as Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane.
While the 2018 triumph secured Deschamps’ place among France’s greatest coaches, the years that followed brought increasing scrutiny.
France entered UEFA Euro 2020 as overwhelming favourites but suffered a shock last-16 exit to Switzerland on penalties after throwing away a 3-1 lead.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Les Bleus again reached the final, only to lose one of the greatest finals in football history against Argentina on penalties despite Mbappé’s unforgettable hat-trick.
The disappointment continued at the 2026 World Cup, where France’s campaign ended in the semi-finals with a 2-0 defeat to Spain. After the elimination, captain Kylian Mbappé admitted the team had committed “errors unworthy of a World Cup semi-final.”
Deschamps leaves with an outstanding overall record, having guided France through a period of consistency unmatched by most international coaches. However, with arguably the deepest talent pool in world football at his disposal, many believe only one major trophy fell short of what this generation was capable of achieving.
His greatest achievement may ultimately be creating a culture of stability after years of uncertainty, even if France failed to convert their extraordinary individual quality into sustained tournament dominance.
Zidane set for the next chapter
Attention now turns to Zinedine Zidane, who is widely expected to succeed Deschamps.
The former Real Madrid manager has long been linked with the France job and reportedly rejected several club opportunities while waiting for the national team role to become available.
Should his appointment be confirmed, Zidane will inherit one of football’s most gifted squads and the challenge of transforming immense talent into another World Cup-winning side.
If successful, he would join an exclusive club of men to have won the FIFA World Cup both as a player and as a coach—alongside Mario Zagallo, Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps himself.
