Former France national football team manager Didier Deschamps is taking a period of rest in Brittany after stepping down from his post following the 2026 World Cup in July.
The 57-year-old Basque coach is currently unemployed following the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as his successor on a four-year contract.
Deschamps is spending time at his secondary residence in the Finistère department, located in the far west of north-western France, where he plays padel, visits relatives, and unwinds after 14 years in charge of the national team.
Deschamps led France as head coach starting in 2012, having previously captained the national side to victory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He remains one of the most popular figures in French football.
Despite taking time away from football, Deschamps has no plans to retire from management and intends to return to coaching when a suitable project presents itself.
According to French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Deschamps maintains high popularity across European football and remains open to leading either a top club side or another national team.
Before settling into his current break, Deschamps attracted interest from several high-profile organizations. He was considered for the vacant manager position with the Italy national team and was linked to Spanish club Real Madrid prior to the appointment of Jose Mourinho.
Saudi Arabian clubs also expressed interest in securing the services of the former Bleus captain, but Deschamps chose not to rush into any decision.
Unlike Zidane, who spent five years out of management before taking the France job, Deschamps does not plan to remain out of coaching for five years, even as he takes time to select his next project in Brittany without rushing.
Departure from France and World Cup fallout
Deschamps' exit from the French national team came after an emotionally taxing period in which he described the surrounding environment around his persona as having become unbreathable.
Reflecting on his final moments as national team head coach, Deschamps revealed that two or three messages he received during his departure brought him to tears.
The conclusion of his 14-year tenure followed a turbulent 2026 World Cup tournament in North America, where France finished in fourth place despite entering the competition as major favourites.
During the tournament, Deschamps suffered the loss of his mother and made a 7,000-kilometre journey across the Atlantic Ocean back to France to attend her funeral.
The head coach returned to the squad after missing several days of training preparation, after which France suffered a heavy defeat against Spain and subsequently conceded six goals in a match against England.
Despite the difficult end to his tenure, Deschamps received warm tributes from his backroom coaching staff, who published a touching farewell letter stating how difficult it was to say goodbye to him.
His transition out of the job has also prompted public discussion in France regarding his unemployment status, with reports noting that he receives €8,400 per month in state unemployment benefits.
Defenders of the former manager pointed out that Deschamps paid substantial social security contributions over 35 years of professional football at very high income levels, and will resume contributing to the system at the same level or higher once he secures his next position.
Zidane appointment and Clairefontaine transition
Zinedine Zidane has officially taken charge of the France national team after signing a four-year contract with the French Football Federation to succeed Deschamps.
Speaking ahead of his first UEFA Nations League match as national manager, Zidane outlined his ambitions for the team, stating that winning alone was not sufficient and that France must win with style.
Zidane's arrival marked the start of a new era at the Fernand Sastre National Football Centre in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, the headquarters of French international football south-west of Paris.
The initial squad gathering under Zidane provided a moment of levity when a player called up to the senior national team for the first time got lost in the corridors at Clairefontaine, later explaining that he had gone to the wrong floor.
Diplomatic incident in international football
As France transitions to a new management era, broader international football has seen political and diplomatic friction surrounding recent international fixtures in Europe.
A match between Ireland and Israel escalated into a diplomatic incident following sharp verbal exchanges between representatives of both countries surrounding the fixture.
During the dispute, Irish representatives stated that their team was playing against genocide, prompting a severe reaction from Israeli officials who accused their counterparts of stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy.
