The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed Didier Deschamps’ contract renewal on Saturday. Deschamps will now continue as France’s head coach for the next UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup cycle until 2026.
Deschamps’ previous contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar. With this contract renewal, the coach will be entrusted with having the team try to win Euro 2024 in Germany and the 2026 World Cup which will be shared between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Before the contract renewal, the FFF president Noel Le Graet reportedly only wanted to give Deschamps a two-year extension until the 2024 European Championship in Germany. However, the 54-year-old coach had insisted on staying in charge until the next World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This is likely because Deschamps made light of numerous absences to guide the French to their third final in his tenure as boss. The absences increased after France’s 2018 World Cup success in Russia and the Euro 2016 final on home soil.
In a French Football Federation press conference on Saturday, Deschamps gave a statement.
“We spent four weeks in our bubble from the world. You know the high esteem that I have for the France national team. What we experienced was happiness. The end was cruel, but my desire is shared by that of my president. I did not hesitate. I needed some time, as I do after every big competition. If I had any hesitation, I would not be here today. There were talks and the president and I met. It is an important sign of confidence to be under contract until 2026. We will go step by step — results are needed and I am not planning for the next World Cup yet. There are other things coming up.”
Before becoming a coach, Deschamps had plenty of achievements as a player. He is one of only two men to have won the FIFA World Cup as a captain and coach, after successes in 1998 and 2018. Deschamps has also earned two UEFA Champions League titles and claimed two Ligue 1 titles, three Serie As, and the FA Cup.
In addition to all his victories, Deschamps has a Union of European Football Associations Nations League title.
Deschamps became the coach of the national team in 2012. During this time, he has guided the team to 89 wins, 28 draws, and 22 defeats from 139 games. In addition to his contract renewal, Deschamps’ long-time assistant Guy Stephan will continue alongside him as well as goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot and fitness coach Cyril Moine.
France will return to action on March 24, facing the Netherlands at the Stade de France at the start of qualifying for Euro 2024.
Currently, the FFF is awaiting the results of an audit, which should arrive around mid-February. For now, the French coach is safe from that until at least post-Euro 2024, even if the federation presidency could change at the end of Noel le Graet’s current mandate, which expires in 2024.
