While Spain faced Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, Emmanuel Macron received Didier Deschamps at the Elysée Palace, Sunday, July 19. The President of the Republic had organized a small dinner to pay tribute to the former coach, the day after his last match at the head of the French team.
Guy Stéphan was also invited with his wife
Didier Deschamps wasn't alone. His long-time assistant, Guy Stéphan, also attended the dinner. Both coaches were accompanied by their wives. This private reception thus brought together the head of state and the two men who led the French national team for nearly 14 years.
Emmanuel Macron had personally invited Didier Deschamps to discuss France's performance during the World Cup. The president also wished to thank him for his entire tenure, which began in the summer of 2012. No detailed account of their discussions has been made public.
A final World Cup finished in fourth place
The match took place the day after Didier Deschamps' last game in charge of France. Having lost to Spain in the semi-final, Les Bleus finished their tournament with a spectacular defeat against England in the third-place match.
Trailing 4-0 at halftime, France fought back but ultimately lost 6-4 in Miami. This defeat brought Didier Deschamps' tenure as manager to a close after 185 matches and 14 years at the helm of the national team.
"Fourteen years: the Deschamps generation"
Emmanuel Macron had already publicly paid tribute to the outgoing coach. In a message published after his last match, the president summarized his time with Les Bleus with this phrase: "Fourteen years: the Deschamps generation."
Since taking over as manager of the French national team in 2012, Didier Deschamps has won the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. He also led Les Bleus to the final of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. His team reached another World Cup semi-final in 2026 before finishing fourth.
The end of 14 years at the top for Les Bleus
Didier Deschamps had announced in January 2025 that he would leave his post after the 2026 World Cup. He has therefore respected the set timetable, without extending his contract beyond the tournament organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His departure brings to an end the longest tenure of a national team coach in the history of the French national team. A World Cup winner as captain in 1998 and then as manager in 2018, Didier Deschamps leaves Les Bleus without having announced his next move. At 57, he has not declared his intention to retire and remains free to accept a new project after a period of rest.
