From now on, every new match of the French national team could be the last for Didier Deschamps at its head. Whether the Blues’ road ends in New York this Tuesday or in New York on July 19 is not the same, but the mark left by their coach over fourteen years will not fundamentally change. From Carlo Ancelotti to Mauricio Pochettino, from Rudi Garcia to Julian Nagelsmann, including Luis de la Fuente, Emers Fae, Hajime Moriyasu and many other coaches present in North America during this World Cup, all praise the 57-year-old Frenchman’s longevity and applaud his performance.
They remember him… before the Blues
Moriyasu: “It was an honor to play against him”
Remembering Didier Deschamps and the other coaches present at the World Cup first brings back old memories, especially about Japan. “It was an honor to play against him. (1-4, May 29, 1994, in the Kirin Cup) and I remember how strong he wasa story about Moriyasu. I’m sure he will continue to win wherever he goes after the World Cup. »
Around the same time, Ronald Koeman, a Dutch technician, met him when he was playing at Barça and Deschamps at Juventus: “Beyond the sporting battles we shared, what I remember about Didier is that he is a true gentleman who always respects his opponents.” Norwegian Stale Solbakken remembers “He met him in Copenhagen when he was in Marseille and he is without a doubt the most experienced coach at the World Cup.”.
For French-speaking coaches, memories are even more important. Fe smiles: “When I signed my first professional contract, I followed his career as a player, I hoped to get a quarter of what he would have. Now I follow him as a coach and hope to get a quarter of what he had, what he did. That would be huge.”
Rudi Garcia, the French technical specialist for the Belgium national team, in turn recalls the successes of the club’s coach, who, in his opinion, laid the foundations for coaching: “The Champions League final with Monaco, the league title with Marseille at a time when OL was dominant, he also had success with Juventus, who he took to Serie A. The French team has a world title like Aimé Jacquet, but with a final four years later, which is just very strong.”
They applaud his sense of control
Pochettino: ‘Impressive ability to manage people’
Carlo Ancelotti, who has been in charge of Brazil for a year, insists on one thing: “Didier was able to adapt to the changing characteristics of the French players while maintaining a very well-organized team from a defensive point of view.” A remark that echoes that of Graham Arnold, Iraq’s 2026 coach, who already faced the Blues in 2022 with Australia: “We feel that his players love him and that they will want to achieve something special for him at this World Cup. Didier is doing an incredible job.”
The Blues boss’s management skills are exactly the kind of quality Fae envies. “Honestly, it’s difficult to choose one among alllaunches a coach from Ivory Coast. We must not forget that he arrived in the French national team at a time when things were a little difficult there. After a few years we saw the difference. But yes, I like his management, he takes the team and directs it according to the quality of his players, that’s a quality I would like to have. »
The German company Nagelsmann is developing: “Time and time again he managed to form a cohesive and functional team of diverse individuals – a team driven by a common passion for a common goal. The players agreed to put aside their egos. He knew how to turn individual stars into a real team, giving them the freedom they needed while demanding discipline.”
Ego management, this expression was also picked up by the Croatian Zlatko Dalic: “Obviously he is exceptional from a management point of view and that area is even more challenging when you have so many world-class players in your team. How do you manage their egos? How do you put them at the service of the team? How do you keep 26 players happy? How can they maintain their ambition, appetite and energy after they’ve already won the World Cup? How do you bounce back from losing a Euro final at home?” (0:1 game against Portugal at Euro 2016) ? All this is only possible if you skillfully lead your team. This is the most important quality. »
Having led the US for two years, Pochettino agrees: “He has an impressive ability to manage people. I know him. I know how great he is, both as a coach and as a person. I also spoke about him sometimes with Hugo Lloris. I am convinced that France will regret this, from all points of view.”
They praise the culture of results.
Nagelsmann: “I admire success over such a long period of time”
Dalic, who met France Deschamps several times, admits: “His results have been remarkable and I hope they are appreciated. France has an exceptional squad of players – perhaps the best in the world – but, as we all know, this is not always a guarantee of success. The fact that coach Deschamps has remained in his post for so long is not only a reflection of his results, but also proof of his ability to select the right players and the right personnel, while maintaining a high standard of behavior and professionalism.”
Nagelsmann adds: “Didier Deschamps ushered in an era of the highest level, an achievement that is given to very few coaches. Only the truly exceptional achieve this. It is remarkable not only to stay in your job for 14 years, but to experience success over such a long period, to know how to tirelessly motivate yourself and others, inspire them and unite them around a common goal. I admire that.”
Even if he knocked him out in the semi-final of the last Euro with Spain (2-1), De la Fuente signs: “He demonstrated deep tactical knowledge and excelled in his preparation for the match; he knows how to manage a team full of big stars, ensuring everyone is satisfied, happy and performing at the highest level.”
They envy his longevity
De la Fuente: “For so many years it seems to me that this is almost impossible”
Opinions differ on the question: will another fourteen years at the head of the selection be repeated? “It seems almost impossible to me for so many years in a row, both in the selection and in the club.De la Fuente evaluates. This makes Didier’s credit even greater. » Ancelotti Marre: “It seems really hard today, but hey, I’ll try…” Joachim Löw remained in charge of Germany for fifteen years, from 2006 to 2021.
“I know from my experience how difficult it is, Dalic continues. I have been coaching the Croatian national team for almost nine years and I understand the pressure, stress and expectations of the public that weigh on your body, mind and even your family. At the same time, it is a huge privilege, and I know that there is no more beautiful profession. I appreciate the kind words Didier sent me during my 100th selection as manager. » Only Murat Yakin, coach of the Swiss national team, believes in this: “I think it’s possible if you have a good relationship with the club, you like your job, yes, I think it is. It’s one of the best jobs. But Didier is a fantastic coach.”
They think he made history
Garcia: ‘He deserves a statue’
Internationally, the perception of Deschamps is clear. Koeman: “Didier can be extremely proud of his career in charge of the French national team and he is a fantastic ambassador for football in your country.” Monyasu: “His record speaks for itself.” Pochettino: “ I find it difficult for another coach to match what Didier has achieved. He is unique, as a coach and as a person, he gave a lot to French football. » From the source: “Obviously, Deschamps has left his mark on history. Whether it’s as a player or as a coach. It’s very difficult to achieve the level of success that he had.” Arnold: “He is a fantastic coach and an exceptional person who has brought France back to success.” Ancelotti: “I am convinced that his work will be recognized not only in France, but also in the world of football.”
On the other hand, in France his perception was sometimes mixed, which Garcia does not understand: “For me, he is one of the best French coaches of all time, if not the best. He deserves a statue for what he has done for French football. In France, this test often happened: he wins, but it is not very spectacular, which is actually less true. So yes, we always want everything to be better, but when I became a coach, I realized that we do not have much time with the guys, that we have to get to the most important thing, to instill the principles of the game in a very short time. “It’s Didier’s quality to know how to make his team strong.”
They don’t want to meet him… right away
Yakin: “He will finish his career at the head of the Blues without ever beating me”
Even if De la Fuente remains hopeful of beating the Blues, he says: “Usually our clashes were in the closing stages, very important matches at a very high level, and you know you have to be very, very good to beat your team.” Dalic, who remains excluded from the League of Nations, “I hope we meet again… as late as possible in the tournament.”.
Nagelsmann, “ I’m glad to meet him during the World Cup draw,” then I hoped “Deal with it as soon as possible” while the picture painted a different perspective. Pochettino before this World Cup would have seen nothing wrong with finding him… in the final: “If only!” » It would be better if there was a semi-final now. Yakin smiles: “It’s always nice to see him. Sometimes we play padel together. He plays really well. But we’ve never met since I became Switzerland’s coach.” He cheerfully concludes: “I could tell he would finish his career at the helm of the Blues without ever beating me.”