Deschamps confesses why he is leaving the France national team: "The atmosphere was unbearable"

Didier Deschamps already announced in January 2025 that he would not continue as manager after the 2026 World Cup

Didier Deschamps explained in an interview granted to French radio station M6 the reasons why he has decided not to continue as France manager, a position that Zinedine Zidane is close to inheriting.

The 57-year-old French coach revealed that he had decided to step down as national team manager "for the good of the French team", due to an "atmosphere" that had become "unbearable" for him.

"I decided that things could not go on like this. And if I made this decision, it was not out of self-interest, but for the good of the French team," he explained on M6 after his last match as coach, which was the 6-4 defeat against England in the match for third and fourth place at the World Cup.

Deschamps: "The atmosphere around me had become very toxic, and the French national team does not deserve that"

'Didier Deschamps, who already announced in January 2025 that he would not renew his contract after the 2026 World Cup, admitted that "perhaps I didn’t say it before, but I’m telling you now with complete honesty: I did not make this decision for myself. The environment around me had become very toxic, and the French national team does not deserve that".'

The French national team is above everything. It doesn't belong to me. I have served it for 14 years. Nothing is above this jersey

In his 14 years as coach, he has led France to win the 2018 World Cup and reach the final of the 2022 World Cup.

'"The French national team is above everything. It does not belong to me. I have served it for 14 years. Nothing is above this jersey," he said, his voice choked with emotion after the defeat against England.'