After France, Deschamps headed for Monaco rather than troubled Marseille return

Didier Deschamps has not yet closed the door on coaching, but his next bench should not be that of Olympique de Marseille. Several observers close to the sport believe AS Monaco represents the most serious option for the former France manager, who has been free since the end of his tenure with the national team this summer.

The question of a return to Marseille has nonetheless resurfaced in recent weeks, fueled by the club’s difficulties. Since late August, Marseille has suffered five consecutive defeats, which has weakened Bruno Genesio’s position and fueled speculation. But journalist Dave Appadoo, speaking on the show Les Stoppeurs, firmly ruled out this hypothesis: “Impossible, he won’t take over another club. A club in France, overexposed, I don’t believe it. To plunge back into the Marseille whirlwind, no. He was marked when he left.” His colleague Nabil Djelit agrees: “I don’t see him taking over a club with the possibility of toxicity. He lived through the sequence when he became French champion. It hadn’t been simple.”

Monaco, on the other hand, ticks several boxes. Appadoo puts it clearly: “The most he could take is Monaco. With a somewhat relaxed lifestyle.” A geographical argument adds to this: Deschamps lives in Cap d’Ail, on the edge of the Principality, just minutes from Stade Louis-II.

The symbolism would be strong. It was at Monaco that “DD” began his coaching career in 2001, immediately after hanging up his boots. In four seasons on the Rock, he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2003 and led the Red and Whites to the Ligue des Champions final in 2004, eliminating Real Madrid and Chelsea along the way. A trophy haul and intimate knowledge of the club that make him a natural candidate if a position were to open up.

Deschamps himself has been careful not to close any doors since leaving the France job. “I need to take a break, to breathe,” he had said, while clarifying that he was not ruling out any option for the rest of his career. The timeline for his return therefore remains open.