Didier Deschamps says he has no intention of stopping his coaching career anytime soon, even as he prepares to leave his role as France manager after nearly 14 years in charge. In an interview with Olivier Giroud in Le Figaro, the 57-year-old made clear that he still wants to keep working as long as he feels able to do the job. He said coaching gives him the adrenaline he needs and that he does not want a life with nothing planned for the next day.
Deschamps explained that he enjoys life away from football too, and that he has known when to step away at different moments in his career. But he stressed that retirement is not on his mind yet. Instead, he wants to continue taking on new challenges after his time with the French national team ends. His comments suggest that a return to club coaching or another football project could follow his departure from the national side.
The France boss also spoke in a lighter tone about a possible padel match with Giroud, one of his former players and the all-time leading scorer for the French national team. Deschamps said Giroud should train regularly if he wants to win, noting that he has already gained some experience in the sport despite playing less often lately. He added that he enjoys staying in touch with former internationals and that France’s 2018 World Cup triumph will always connect him and his players.
Deschamps, who has had a padel court built at his home on the French Riviera, joked that if Giroud really wants to win, he would be better off teaming up with him. The exchange highlighted the strong bond between the coach and his former striker, while also showing Deschamps’ competitive spirit remains intact.
His remarks come as the end of a major era in French football approaches. After guiding Les Bleus through one of the most successful periods in the team’s history, Deschamps is expected to step aside following the World Cup. But his comments indicate that his coaching story is not finished. Rather than preparing for a quiet retirement, he appears ready to keep competing, keep working, and keep seeking the next challenge in football.
