Didier Deschamps Steps Down After 14 Years Leading France: "It Was a Wonderful Adventure"

Didier Deschamps, who has led the French national football team for 14 years, concluded his final match with a defeat but bid farewell with a smile.

France lost 4-6 to England in the third-place play-off of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup held at Miami Stadium today (July 19, KST).

This was the 185th and final match under the leadership of Deschamps.

"On a human level, it was a truly wonderful adventure," Deschamps said after the match. "The eight weeks we spent together from the start of the tournament preparations were beautiful."

The legacy Deschamps leaves behind in French football is profound.

When he took the helm in 2012, the image of the French national team was at its lowest point.

The team was still reeling from the aftermath of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the squad boycotted training, drawing fierce public criticism.

Succeeding Laurent Blanc, Deschamps restored order to the team and gradually built trust with the players.

In the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Deschamps led France to its second-ever title.

He became the third person in history to lift the World Cup trophy as both a player and a coach, joining Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.

Deschamps was the captain of the national team when France won its first title at the 1998 tournament held on home soil.

Under Deschamps, France also reached the final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where they drew 3-3 with Argentina after extra time before losing in a penalty shootout to finish as runners-up.

He also led the team to victory in the 2021 UEFA Nations League and a runner-up finish at the 2016 UEFA European Championship.

In this World Cup, France cruised until the quarterfinals but suffered a 0-2 defeat to Spain in the semifinals.

Deschamps recorded 20 wins in World Cup finals, the highest record in history.

The contract between Deschamps and the French Football Federation was set to expire at the end of this tournament.

He had already informed the federation early last year that he would not be extending his contract.

Zinedine Zidane, a French legend and former manager of the Spanish professional club Real Madrid, is considered the favorite to succeed him.

"There are quite a few young players in the French national team who will continue to grow," Deschamps said, expressing his hope for the team's continued development.

He did not shy away from a cold assessment of the third-place match result.

The French players conceded a goal just 3 minutes into the first half and appeared to lose motivation, trailing by 4 goals before halftime.

Although they mounted a fierce chase in the second half, they ultimately lost 4-6.

"It was an unacceptable first half," Deschamps said. "We had two chances to make it 4-4 (in the second half) but couldn't capitalize. It would have been better to finish in third place."

Captain Kylian Mbappe said, "Today's match will not tarnish the legend of coach Deschamps."

The French Football Federation issued a statement saying, "Didier Deschamps embodied high standards, rigor, a sense of community, and a love for the blue jersey. Under his leadership over the past 14 years, the French national team has maintained world-class performance while regaining trust, respect, and affection," as they bid him farewell.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.