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Ed Dove
Multiple Authors
Senegal has appointed Dakar-born France football icon Patrick Vieira as their new head coach, following the dismissal of Pape Thiaw post-World Cup.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) revealed Vieira’s hiring after an emergency committee meeting conducted via video call on Monday afternoon.
“After careful consideration, the Emergency Committee unanimously sanctioned Mr. Patrick Vieira’s appointment as the head coach of Senegal’s senior national team,” stated the FSF. “This strategic move signifies our determination to create a high-level technical setup that aligns with our nation’s sporting aspirations.”
Currently, discussions regarding the “administrative and contractual terms” of Vieira’s appointment are ongoing, and a date for his official presentation has yet to be announced.
Born in Senegal’s capital in 1976, Vieira moved to northern France at the age of eight.
The former professional garnered 107 caps for France, helping secure victory in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship, in addition to reaching another World Cup final in 2006.
Interestingly, Vieira was on the French team defeated by Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
At the club level, Vieira became an Arsenal legend during his nine-year tenure in London, having signed just before Arsene Wenger assumed the managerial position.
He secured three Premier League titles in London and was part of the legendary ‘Invincibles’ team of 2003-04, later playing for Juventus, Inter Milan, and Manchester City.
In terms of coaching, Vieira’s journey has yet to reach the heights of his playing career, amassing experience across the United States, England, France, and Italy.
He kicked off his managerial career with New York City FC and went on to lead Nice, Crystal Palace, and Strasbourg.
His most recent managerial role was at Genoa, where he parted ways with the club by mutual consent while they were positioned at the bottom of Serie A in November 2025.
Taking over Senegal marks Vieira’s first venture into international management, tasked with stabilizing the team after a tumultuous World Cup campaign that led to Thiaw’s dismissal.
Thiaw had previously orchestrated a stunning AFCON victory in Morocco earlier this year before controversy erupted when he pulled the Teranga Lions off the field during the final to protest a refereeing decision, resulting in a match interruption.
Despite Senegal winning on January 18, the Confederation of African Football later decided on March 17 to strip them of the title, awarding it instead to Morocco, as Senegal violated tournament rules by leaving the pitch without the referee’s consent.
Senegal is currently appealing this decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a hearing scheduled for October 8.
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Following the AFCON incident, Thiaw managed Senegal through a World Cup campaign where they reached the knockout stages despite losing their first two games. Senegal led 2-0 against Belgium in the round of 32, only to ultimately lose 3-2 in extra time.
Thiaw’s dismissal by the federation stemmed from a controversy involving the team’s doctor, and issues regarding his departure have led to a financial dispute that remains unsettled as Vieira steps into his role.
This uncertain backdrop adds complexity to Vieira’s appointment, who now must oversee the upcoming AFCON qualifying campaign starting in September.
Senegal has been drawn against Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia in their qualifying group as they aim for a place in next year’s AFCON tournament.