Didier Deschamps shepherded France to the brink of history but in Qatar in 2022, but he could not quite guide them to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
In the wake of Les Bleus' defeat to Argentina on penalties, the former midfielder could not offer a definitive answer on his plans, with many expecting the 54-year-old to step down following the tournament.
France great Zinedine Zidane has been waiting in the wings, having previously expressed a desire to take charge of the national team. However, the ex-Real Madrid coach will have to be patient a little longer: Deschamps has agreed a new contract with France that will run until the next World Cup in 2026.
𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀 has extended his contract as head coach of the France national team until June 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ✍️#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/PRwGPanSWp
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) January 7, 2023
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Didier Deschamps signs new France contract to 2026
France announced on January 7 that Deschamps had signed a new three-year deal to remain in charge of the national team.
The contract will run until June 2026, when the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States is due to get underway. It will also mean Deschamps will be in charge for France's campaign to qualify for — and attempt to win — Euro 2024 in Germany.
The former France captain, who has already been in charge of Les Bleus for 11 years, said of his new deal: "In Qatar, we were very close to obtaining what we wanted: the title of world champion. There were a lot of positive things.
"On returning to France, I realised the emotions, the passions that this World Cup was able to arouse. There was a lot of passion, a lot of support.
"You can count on me to keep the France team at the highest international level."
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎! 🇫🇷
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) December 21, 2022
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 to les Bleus for all 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 during this 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 💙#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/tFSgk9kb6v
How close was Deschamps to leaving France job?
It was long rumoured that the 2022 World Cup would be Deschamps' last tournament in charge of France.
The former Marseille and Chelsea midfielder repeatedly refused questions on his future in Qatar. However, the French FA had made themselves clear: they wanted him to stay.
President of the FFF, Noel Le Graet, told Le Figaro: "When you're lucky enough to have Didier Deschamps, you don't go knocking next door, as long as he's in the job.
"My desire is for Didier to stay. Who are you going to find that's better? I'm speaking as the president, not as a friend."
Le Graet had previously stated that Deschamps could decide his own future, but only if France reached the semifinals.
Ahead of France's victory over Morocco, Le Parisien reported that Deschamps would be continuing until Euro 2024. More recent reports in France suggest the length of the new contract was one of the sticking points, with Deschamps eager for a deal that would run until 2026. Ultimately, the coach got his wish.
Didier Deschamps contract, salary
There are few details as yet around the nature of Deschamps' new France contract beyond the fact it runs until June 2026.
Deschamps signed his previous France deal in 2019, extending until the end of Qatar 2022 to complete a decade since succeeding Laurent Blanc.
That contract reportedly saw him earn a salary of €3.8 million (£3.3m/$4m) from the FFF, making him the third highest-paid coach at the 2022 World Cup behind Hansi Flick and Gareth Southgate, per Footy Accumulators.
2 - Didier Deschamps is the fourth manager to lead a nation to back-to-back World Cup finals, after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy (1934, 1938), Carlos Bilardo with Argentina (1986, 1990), and Franz Beckenbauer with Germany (1986, 1990). Midas. pic.twitter.com/eauFEetYM4
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 14, 2022
Didier Deschamps record, trophies with France
Deschamps will go down as one of the greatest figures in French footballing history — and not just for his dugout nous.
Back in his days as 'the Water Carrier', a nickname bestowed by Eric Cantona for his sweeper play style, Deschamps led France to a World Cup on the pitch.
Captaining a side featuring Zidane, Thierry Henry and Marcel Desailly, Deschamps lifted the 1998 World Cup on home soil after beating Brazil 3-0 in the final. Two years later, they were victorious at Euro 2000.
As head coach, Deschamps took France to the final of Euro 2016 in Paris, but they were defeated 1-0 by Portugal. However, in 2018, he steered them to World Cup glory in Moscow, and they beat Spain in the final of the UEFA Nations League in 2021.
The European Championship is one trophy Deschamps hasn't won as a manager, and he will now get his chance to win the continental competition next year in Germany.
Here's Deschamps' record for France, on the pitch and in the dugout.
| Games (W-L-D) | Goals | Major finals | Trophies | |
| Player (1989-2000) | 103 (72–12–19) | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Manager (2012–) | 139 (89–22–28) | — | 4 | 2 |
Zinedine Zidane France rumours
Former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane was the overwhelming favourite for the France job, with some reports suggesting that he had agreed to take over from Deschamps.
Before Qatar 2022 kicked off, esRadio's Sergio Valentin claimed the deal for Zidane to succeed Deschamps was done.
Speaking in June to L'Equipe, Zidane said: "I'm not finished with Les Bleus.
"I want to do it, of course. I will be France coach, I hope, one day. When? That's not up to me.
"Succeed Deschamps? I don't know. If it has to be done, it will be done, at that time or not. But if the opportunity comes later, I will be there. The French national team is the most beautiful thing there is."
Zidane's former teammate Thierry Henry has given his theory, telling CBS Sports: "I think he is waiting for one thing and one thing only and that's the national team."
For now, Zidane's dream will have to wait. Assuming Deschamps sees out his new contract, Zidane will likely explore a return to club football for the next few seasons. He has often been linked with the Paris Saint-Germain job, while a return to Madrid to take over from Carlo Ancelotti whenever the Italian decides to retire has also been mooted.
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What did Didier Deschamps say about his future?
Following his team's victory over England, Deschamps was asked about his future and replied: "Each thing in its own time.
"It's great to achieve the objectives set by the president. He is happy and many people I imagine are happy in France, but I like to enjoy what we have achieved again, that is to say, to be again among the four best teams in the world.
"Now I'm thinking about Wednesday's game [against Morocco], nothing else."
Following the final, Deschamps said: "Even if we'd won, I wouldn't reply to that question tonight. I'm sad for my players and staff... I'll have a meeting with the president at the beginning of next year and then you'll find out [if I am staying]."
Le Graet said he planned to speak with Deschamps in the days following the final. According to L'Equipe, the president of the FFF said he would "call him [Deschamps] tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, when he will have been able to recover at home."