France coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will leave his role as head coach of the men’s senior national team, stating the time has come for him to stop.
The 56-year-old, who is France’s longest-serving coach, is set to step aside after the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he will not renew his contract which expires in the year.
Although, Les Bleus are yet to book their place in the 2026 World Cup.
“In 2026 it will be over. In my head it’s very clear. I’ve done my time, with the same desire and passion to maintain France at the highest level but 2026 is [a] very good [time to stop],” Deschamps said to TF1.
“One has to be able to say stop, there’s a life after this. The most important is for France to stay at the top as they have been for many years.”
Deschamps took charge from fellow 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc in 2012.
He led France to the World Cup title in 2018, two years after reaching the European Championship final on home soil.
Having had lifted trophies with every club he managed before becoming France coach, Deschamps also won the 2021 Nations League title with Les Bleus.
The former France captain is one of only three people to win football’s most prestigious prize as a player and a coach and he also guided the national team to the World Cup final again in 2022, losing to Argentina on penalties, in a match one of the best in the tournament’s history.
