CONFIRMED: Deschamps Ends 14 Year French Reign

Didier Deschamps has officially brought the curtain down on one of the most successful eras in the history of the French national team, with the French Football Federation paying tribute to the departing manager for his "exceptional work" during his 14 years in charge.

In a heartfelt farewell statement, the federation thanked Deschamps for restoring France to the summit of world football and praised the lasting legacy he leaves behind after taking charge of Les Bleus in 2012.

Deschamps departs as the longest-serving manager in the history of the French men's national team, having overseen 185 matches and recorded 120 victories, giving him a win percentage of approximately 65%. Under his leadership, France also drew 31 matches and suffered just 34 defeats while consistently competing among international football's elite.

His greatest achievement came at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where France claimed its second world title with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. Three years later, Deschamps guided the nation to the 2021 UEFA Nations League title, adding another major trophy to an impressive résumé.

France also reached the final of UEFA Euro 2016 on home soil before narrowly losing to Portugal after extra time, while Deschamps led Les Bleus to another World Cup final in Qatar in 2022, where Argentina prevailed in a dramatic penalty shootout following a thrilling 3-3 draw.

During his tenure, France also reached the semi-finals of the 2024 European Championship and regularly occupied the top positions in the FIFA World Rankings, cementing their status as one of international football's dominant forces.

In its farewell message, the French Football Federation praised Deschamps for rebuilding the team's credibility and creating a culture of excellence.

"Didier Deschamps embodied the demand, the rigor, the sense of the collective and the love of the blue jersey," the federation said.

"Under his authority, for fourteen years, the French Team has regained credibility, respect and love by remaining at the highest level in the world."

The federation also highlighted Deschamps' role in developing a new generation of French internationals while strengthening the connection between supporters and the national team.

Deschamps' place in French football history extends well beyond his coaching achievements. As captain, he lifted France's first FIFA World Cup in 1998 before helping the country win UEFA Euro 2000. Two decades later, he became only the third person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, joining an exclusive group alongside Brazil's Mário Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.

With Deschamps stepping aside, attention has quickly turned to who will inherit one of international football's most prestigious jobs.

Former Real Madrid manager and French icon Zinedine Zidane has long been viewed as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Deschamps, although the federation has yet to announce its next appointment.

Zidane enjoyed an illustrious international career with France, earning 108 caps and scoring 31 goals between 1994 and 2006. He was instrumental in France's greatest successes, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, while also guiding Les Bleus to the 2006 World Cup final, where he claimed the tournament's Golden Ball as its best player despite his infamous dismissal in the final against Italy.

Since moving into management, Zidane has established himself as one of the most decorated coaches of his generation, leading Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, along with two LaLiga championships, two FIFA Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups.

Should Zidane be appointed, he would inherit a French squad still boasting world-class talent and high expectations, while facing the challenge of following one of the greatest coaching tenures the nation has ever seen.

For now, however, French football is focused on celebrating the remarkable legacy of Didier Deschamps—a man who captained France to its first World Cup, coached it to its second, and leaves behind a standard of success that may prove difficult to match.