France head coach Didier Deschamps has stepped down after a highly successful 14-year tenure, describing his final campaign with the national team as a "truly wonderful adventure."
The 57-year-old confirmed his departure on Saturday following a chaotic 6-4 loss to England in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff in North America. Despite falling behind 4-0 at half-time, France mounted a dramatic late comeback but ultimately fell short.
Reflecting on his departure, Deschamps praised the eight weeks spent with his players and staff since preparations began, calling the experience "beautiful." However, he acknowledged the team's disappointment in missing out on the championship. He pointed to their 2-0 semi-final defeat against Spain, noting, "We set out with a great deal of ambition. We failed in our match against Spain, and they were able to perform at a very high level against us."
Deschamps leaves behind an exceptional legacy with Les Bleus. He guided France to a World Cup victory in Moscow in 2018—becoming one of only three men to win the tournament as both a player and a coach—and led them to the final in Doha in 2022.
As he prepares to hand over leadership, which is widely expected to go to French football legend Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps expressed complete confidence in the team's future.
"There are quite a few young players who will continue to develop, and there's the talent to keep achieving very good results," he stated.
