Didier Deschamps is the most successful coach in France’s history and one of the most decorated figures the game has seen, a man who lifted the World Cup as a player and won it again as a manager. As he leads France into the 2026 World Cup, in what he has confirmed will be his final tournament in charge, he does so as a serial winner chasing one more crown. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub.
Who is Didier Deschamps?
Deschamps was a relentless defensive midfielder and a born leader, capped 103 times by France and a captain wherever he played. He lifted the Champions League with Marseille in 1993, becoming the youngest captain to do so at the time, and won it again with Juventus in 1996. He then captained France to glory at the 1998 World Cup on home soil and Euro 2000, the heart of a golden generation.
From captain to World Cup-winning coach
Few have made the move from the pitch to the dugout as successfully. Deschamps took Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final, won Ligue 1 with Marseille in 2010 for the club’s first title in 18 years, and took charge of France in 2012. A decade and more later, he has become the longest-serving and most successful manager the national team has ever had.
Didier Deschamps’s managerial honors
Deschamps has won at almost every level of the game as a coach. His major managerial honors are below.
| Team | Honors |
|---|---|
| France | World Cup (2018), UEFA Nations League (2021), World Cup runner-up (2022), European Championship runner-up (2016) |
| Marseille | Ligue 1 (2009-10), Coupe de la Ligue (2010, 2011, 2012) |
| Monaco | Champions League runner-up (2004), Coupe de la Ligue (2003) |
| Juventus | Serie B (2006-07) |
That France record alone, a World Cup, a Nations League and two more major-tournament finals, marks him out as one of the finest international managers of the modern era.
A World Cup winner as player and coach
Deschamps holds a place in history shared by only two other men. He is one of just three people to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, lifting it as France’s captain in 1998 and again as their head coach in 2018, an honor he shares with Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer. He came within a penalty shootout of a third in 2022, when France lost the final to Argentina.
Deschamps’s World Cup 2026 mission
France are among the favorites for the World Cup 2026, and there is an added layer to this campaign: Deschamps has announced he will step down after the tournament, ending a tenure that began in 2012. He can call on a squad packed with talent, led by captain Kylian Mbappe and creator Michael Olise. See where France sit in our who will win the World Cup 2026 guide, how the knockouts look in our World Cup 2026 bracket, and the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds.
How Deschamps set up against Senegal
France’s opener showed the blend of solidity and attacking talent that defines a Deschamps side. He set the team up in a 4-2-3-1, and Kylian Mbappe scored twice to become France’s all-time leading scorer, with Bradley Barcola adding a third and Michael Olise pulling the strings as the chief creator. It was a controlled, front-foot performance from one of the tournament favorites.
Deschamps’s World Cup 2026 start
Deschamps could hardly have asked for a better start to his farewell campaign. France beat Senegal 3-1, with Mbappe’s double and Barcola’s goal earning a comfortable opening win. For a manager chasing one last World Cup before he steps aside, it was exactly the platform he wanted. Must be 21+ and present in a state where betting is legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Didier Deschamps is a French football coach and the head coach of France’s men’s national team since 2012. A World Cup winner as both a player and a manager, he previously managed Monaco, Juventus and Marseille.
Yes, twice. He captained France to the title in 1998 and won it again as their manager in 2018, making him one of only three men to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager.
Yes. Deschamps has confirmed he will step down as France head coach after the 2026 World Cup, ending a tenure that began in 2012.
With France he won the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League, and reached the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals. He also won Ligue 1 with Marseille in 2010 and reached the 2004 Champions League final with Monaco.