“I am going to announce something to you which gives me immense pleasure. I hope it will be shared by all of you. My president has decided to extend me until 2026. ” It is around 10:50 a.m. this Saturday noon at the Méridien Etoile hotel (17th arrondissement of Paris) and the soap opera ends. Didier Deschamps will extend well at the head of the Blues. As we already suggested on our site on December 30, and as we confirmed in preview this Saturday morning, the love story between the French team and the legend of French football is not over.
Blue jacket, black shirt, DD climbed on the stage of the FFF general assembly and confirmed what everyone expected, but not really at this precise moment. Introduced by a Christmas Le Graët to the angels, Didier Deschamps spoke for about ten minutes, after having offered himself a long sequence of applause then a standing ovation. “I obviously thank the president for his ongoing support and his continued confidence. It’s something essential in the functioning of the French team, “said the coach, who insisted on the marks of affection received since December 18 and the final lost against Argentina. (3-3, 4-2 tabs).
“I realized since my return the emotions and the passion that this World Cup had been able to generate in the districts, the leagues and the overseas territories. There was a lot of passion, support. The formula “proud to be blue” is beautiful and has taken on even more meaning through this tournament. »
Four more years, a wish of Deschamps
So the French team is off again for a “new” cycle… under the sign of stability, for potentially four years, and with an unchanged staff. Guy Stephan (assistant), Franck Raviot (goalkeeping coach) and Cyril Moine (physical trainer), present this Saturday, are indeed also renewed.
Didier Deschamps, in place since 2012, met on Thursday December 29 its president, Noël Le Graët, in his Guingamp stronghold. During this convivial and constructive meeting, the decision had not been recorded, but the two parties had already expressed their common desire to continue the adventure.
The few obstacles to be removed, details with regard to the bond of trust that unites the two men, were then quickly removed. They mainly related to the duration of the contract and the room for maneuver of the Basque technician, rather than the amount of his salary. In the end, Noël Le Graët decided to extend Deschamps until the 2026 World Cup, as the latter wished.
An extension signed Friday evening
The extension file has been the subject of great discretion in recent days. But behind this vagueness, it was for the Breton leader to better guarantee its effect. NLG wanted to preserve the scoop of this announcement to league and district presidents. A highly symbolic and strategic gesture for the one who went through great turbulence this fall and while an audit mandated by the Ministry of Sports on the subject of federal management must deliver its conclusions by mid-February.
The signature took place on Friday evening in Paris. The day before, Jean-Pierre Bernès, the coach’s agent, had met Le Graët in the capital in order to settle the contractual details in less than 30 minutes. Place now for the new sports project. “We have important deadlines with a return to school in March, with two big games against the Netherlands and against Ireland (March 24 and 27), on the road to qualifying for Euro 2024 in Germany, said Didier. The fields. You can count on me, on all the staff to ensure that the French team is maintained at the highest international level. »
