Patrick Vieira appointed new Senegal coach

Senegal have appointed former France international Patrick Vieira as their new head coach, following the team's Round of 32 exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The 50-year-old, born in Dakar, fills the position vacated by Pape Thiaw.

Vieira's immediate priority is to lead the Lions of Teranga to qualification for the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, before shifting focus to securing a spot at the FIFA World Cup 2030™.

A decorated playing career

Vieira was a key member of the France squad that won the 1998 World Cup on home soil. He also claimed the UEFA EURO 2000 title with Les Bleus. In the 2006 World Cup, he scored a crucial goal in the 3-1 Round of 16 victory over Spain, but later suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final.

At club level, Vieira enjoyed a trophy-laden career with Arsenal, Juventus, and Inter Milan before retiring as a highly regarded midfielder and moving into coaching.

Coaching journey

After three years managing New York City FC in Major League Soccer, Vieira returned to Europe. He has since managed OGC Nice, Crystal Palace, RC Strasbourg, and most recently Genoa.

Senegal's recent World Cup campaign

Under Vieira's leadership, Senegal—currently ranked 18th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking—will aim to build on their recent performances. In the 2026 World Cup, they qualified from a challenging Group I that also featured France and Norway. In the Round of 32, they led Belgium 2-0 with five minutes remaining, but conceded late goals and eventually lost 3-2 after extra time.

Vieira's appointment signals Senegal's ambition to progress further in major tournaments, with the 2027 AFCON and 2030 World Cup as key targets.