Didier Deschamps is gearing up for his last tournament as the manager of the France national team. He made the announcement in January 2025 that he would vacate his position after the completion of Les Bleus’ campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Zinédine Zidane rumored to be his potential successor.
As the summer tournament approaches, there is considerable speculation surrounding Deschamps’ next moves. He has confirmed that retirement will not be on his agenda after the tournament, leaving open several possibilities: a break, a return to club management, or even the chance to take over another national team.
Formerly associated with clubs like Juventus, Olympique de Marseille, and AS Monaco, Deschamps has been notably linked to the managerial role with the Italy national team. However, during an interview with M6, France captain Kylian Mbappé expressed his desire for Deschamps not to take on another national team role.
“I hope he doesn’t coach another World Cup with a different team… I’m applying the pressure. The media has mentioned Italy and everything… that would be a shame,” said the Real Madrid player. “He means a lot to us. Many national teams will desire his services due to his achievements. Italy should choose an Italian! Didier is French, he’s one of ours.”
Mbappé hopes this will indeed be Deschamps’ last international tournament, and both will be aiming for a successful end with silverware.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle