French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet ‘will hold talks with Didier Deschamps next week to extend his contract until Euro 2024’ – and even hints at the Les Bleus boss leading the national team at the 2030 World Cup
- Didier Deschamps has been in charge of the French national team since 2012
- He won the World Cup with France as a player in 1998 and a manager in 2018
- French Football President Noel Le Graet wants Deschamps to stay in the job
- His contract expires this month, with Zinedine Zidane an option to succeed him
The president of the French Football Federation has indicated he will hold talks with France boss Didier Deschamps ‘next week’ in hope of extending his contract.
Deschamps, who won the World Cup for France as a player in 1998 and a manager in 2018, has been at the helm of Les Bleus since 2012.
FFF president Noel Le Graet has made it explicitly clear that he would like the 54-year-old to remain in charge – and even hinted that Deschamps could lead the team at the 2030 World Cup.
Didier Deschamps has been the France manager since 2012, winning the World Cup with them four years ago in Russia
FFF President Noel Le Graet (pictured with Deschamps) will hold talks with the France manager ‘next week’ about extending his contract
For now, Le Graet’s aim is to extend the manager’s deal until Euro 2024, when his final term as president also ends.
Deschamps’ contract expires at the end of the month, and there has been much speculation over France legend Zinedine Zidane succeeding him.
However, with the increased likelihood of Deschamps staying on, Zidane may look to a return to club management, having not led a team since the end of his second stint in charge of Real Madrid last year.
When confronted with the idea of Zidane replacing his former team-mate Deschamps, Le Graet told Ouest-France: ‘I haven’t thought about the fact that Didier could leave.
‘Some journalists want things to change, but I’m not easily swayed with regard to that kind of thing. Didier has done a good job, he has the choice, and I think we’ll come to an agreement.’
Le Graet is keen for Deschamps to stay on and lead France at Euro 2024 when his own time in office comes to an end
Zidane, who played with Deschamps at Juventus, is tipped to succeed the France boss if he leaves
And when asked about whether Deschamps could lead France at the 2026 World Cup, Le Graet replied: ‘And why not 2030? We are already going to spend some time together to talk a bit about what happened in Qatar and its desires, how we are already considering the 2024 European Championship.’
In a decade in the job, Deschamps has guided France to three major finals, winning a World Cup and a Nations League title.
Four years on from securing a world title for France in Russia, he led Les Bleus to the final in Qatar, but Lionel Messi’s Argentina stood in their way and broke French hearts.
Deschamps is blessed with an incredible squad, no more impressive than Kylian Mbappe, who at just 24, will play a pivotal role in France’s future major tournaments.
Earlier this week, it emerged via Get French Football News that Deschamps is keen to lead his side at Germany 2024, and possibly to the World Cup in North America in 2026.
It is believed that the talent of France’s young players is a key factor in Deschamps’ desire to stay in his role.
It is, however, believed that Karim Benzema would consider coming out of retirement if Deschamps was to be replaced with Zidane – who managed him at Real Madrid.
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