Another World Cup next year and that's it for Didier Deschamps on the France bench.
The legendary football player and coach announced that he would leave the "tricolor" bench after the World Cup, but he also categorically rejected the possibility that this would mean the end of his career.
"No, no, I'm not retiring, I'm just ending a very beautiful chapter in my life and career," Deschamps said.
When asked if that meant he already had offers, he replied:
"I don't have any offers because at the moment I'm a man with a job. I'm completely dedicated to France, after the summer of next year I can think about something else. Until then, I'm only interested in France," Deschamps is clear.
Deschamps has been on the France bench since 2012.
They were world champions and runners-up (2018 and 2022, respectively), lost to Portugal in the Euro final in 2016, and also won the Nations League trophy.
That it could have been better - it probably is, considering that he has been the leader of one of the strongest teams on the planet for all these years, but no one can deny that he has done great things.
"We haven't said the last word yet," notes Dešan.
He also reflected on the period Kylian Mbappe went through - the Real Madrid ace was in crisis from September until the end of the year, with problems off the field, but now he is finally the Kylian the football world is used to.
"Kilian is playing as well as he can now and will be a great addition for us in March. Will he be the captain? There's no reason not to be, he's a real leader and he's handled that role very well after Hugo Lloris retired," Deschamps added.
And who will be Deschamps' successor on the national team bench? For years, the French public has been emphasizing only one name - Zinedine Zidane.
"Zidane would be the right choice. I would say he is my natural successor, someone who absolutely has everyone's support and is expected to be in this position. But that is a decision that Zinedine Zidane and the French Football Federation should make," Deschamps concluded.
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