Dembélé pays tribute to Deschamps and eagerly awaits Zidane

Ousmane Dembélé spoke on Friday in the pages of Marca to pay tribute to Didier Deschamps, whose tenure as France manager will end following the 2026 World Cup, a competition currently underway.

“Didier Deschamps has been very important to us, the France players, and to me personally in my career since he has been my only manager,” said the Paris Saint-Germain forward. “He has always advised us, sent us congratulatory messages to encourage us.”

The French international then gave a glowing assessment of the Bayonne-born coach. “He is frankly incredible. His record with France is very good, it is even exceptional, with a World Cup won, a Nations League title, finals even if they didn’t go all the way. But he is a coach who will be right up there among French coaches. We are very happy to have had him and we hope to finish on a high note.”

Dembélé also confirmed that Deschamps and his staff share this ambition to go all the way in the tournament. “He and the staff also hope to go all the way in the competition. But we will have to stay focused because it won’t be easy.”

On the announced successor, Zinedine Zidane, the forward did not hide his enthusiasm. “Zidane, we knew him a bit at Real Madrid, I was at Barcelona. He is an icon of French football, the greatest. He is an exceptional coach who won the Champions League three times in a row with Real. We hope to welcome him to the France team. I think he will do very well because he wins all the time.”

Manager since 2012, Deschamps led France to a World Cup title in 2018, a World Cup final in 2022 and a Nations League title, before handing over to the French icon after the American World Cup.