Didier Deschamps on stepping down as France coach: 2026 a very good time to stop

Didier Deschamps said that 2026 is a good time for him to stop as the France coach as he decided against renewing his current contract. Deschamps will be leaving the job which he took over in 2012.

In Short

• Deschamps has been France's longest-serving coach
• The French tactician said it was the best time for him to step away
• Deschamps won the World Cup and Nations League with France as coach

Didier Deschamps opened up on his decision not to renew his contract as the France coach and claimed 2026 is a very good time for him to stop. The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that Deschamps, the longest-serving coach in the history of the French national team, will not extend his tenure beyond his current contract, which runs until 2026. Notably, France has yet to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Deschamps, a 1998 World Cup-winning captain, succeeded Laurent Blanc in 2012. Under his guidance, Les Bleus experienced a golden era, clinching the 2018 World Cup and reaching the European Championship final two years prior. The team also added the 2021 Nations League title to its accolades during his reign.

Speaking to TF1, Deschamps said that the decision was very clear in his head and feels he has done his time. The tactician said that there is life beyond football and it is important for France is to stay at the top.

"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 told 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."

Before assuming the national team role, Deschamps achieved remarkable success at the club level, winning trophies with every team he managed. As a coach, he joined the elite ranks of football figures who have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager.

In 2022, Deschamps once again led France to the World Cup final, where they endured a heart-wrenching defeat to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a thrilling contest, widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in the tournament's history.