Didier Deschamps is away from the France touchline, but not yet ready to close the door on football. As Zinédine Zidane prepares to begin his tenure as Les Bleus coach against Turkey in the Nations League on Friday, his predecessor is weighing the right next move after 14 years in charge of the national team.
A coach still in demand
Deschamps, 57, has made clear that he intends to coach again despite keeping his plans largely private during the 2026 World Cup, where France finished fourth in their group. His long spell with the national side ended this summer, immediately prompting interest from both clubs and national teams.
- Real Madrid were briefly linked with a possible move for Deschamps, which would have reunited him with Kylian Mbappé and several other French internationals in the Spanish squad.
- Madrid president Florentino Pérez instead brought José Mourinho back to the club.
- Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia also approached Deschamps with a proposed three-year deal worth several million euros per season.
- He turned down the Saudi offer, having decided not to accept a job merely to avoid being out of work.
The former France captain and World Cup winner, as a player in 1998 and as coach in 2018, is understood to be waiting for a project that genuinely suits his ambitions rather than rushing into his next appointment.
No planned sabbatical
There is no fixed timetable for Deschamps’ return. Suggestions that he is set on taking a full season away from management, or on beginning a formal sabbatical, do not reflect his current position.
He has not yet found an offer persuasive enough to accept, but he is prepared to move quickly when the right opportunity arrives. That could mean taking a role within a week, later in the campaign or before next season, whether in club football or with another national side.
Dubai restaurant venture keeps Deschamps busy
For now, Deschamps has been spending time away from the relentless rhythm of international football. Based in southern France for several years, he has mixed leisure with a number of commitments since leaving the national job.
- He has played padel with friends during his break from coaching.
- He presented the Thonier of the Month award to Concarneau player Stan Janno in Ligue 3.
- He is becoming a shareholder in “L’annexe”, a luxury restaurant due to open in Dubai.
The Dubai venue is expected to include views towards the Burj Khalifa, as well as a lounge area and swimming pool. Deschamps will be involved in the preparations and organisation ahead of the opening, planned for October, and is also expected to play a role at an inauguration event attended by high-profile guests.
It is a different kind of project for a manager accustomed to tournament pressure, but it does not signal retirement. Deschamps remains available, selective and ready for the next football challenge when the right one appears.
