Fourteen years old !
This is the time that Didier Deschamps will have spent as coach of the France team if he goes to the end of his new contract.
As revealed by Le Parisien, the coach of Les Bleus has extended his lease until 2026. In office since July 2012, he could therefore have been coach of the Tricolores during four World Cups and three Euros, going as far as July 2026.
VIDEO.
"It's a great pleasure": Deschamps extends his contract at the head of the Blues until 2026
An extremely rare longevity, but which is not for all that unprecedented.
Before him, very recently, the former German coach Joachim Löw remained at the head of the Mannschaft for fifteen years, from 2006 to 2021. In total, Germany played 198 matches under his command, and, above all, won a World Cup in 2014. Fifteen years is also the number of years that Morten Olsen spent as coach of Denmark.
From 2000 to 2015, he led 163 matches, including reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
In recent history, Uruguayan Oscar Tabarez has coached Celeste for even longer.
After a first stint from 1988 to 1990, he took over the torch of the Uruguayan national team in 2006, until 2021. He therefore has a little less than eighteen years in office.
Stabile's record set to last
In the 21st century, Didier Deschamps is one of a handful of coaches from major nations with the most impressive longevity.
But going back in time, the list grows.
In England, Walter Winterbottom, for example, remained at the head of the Three Lions for sixteen years, from 1946 to 1962 (139 games).
But the absolute record is still held by an Argentinian, Guillermo Stabile.
From 1939 to 1960, he was the one and only coach of the Albiceleste, twenty-one years at the head of the team.
He who was top scorer at the very first World Cup in 1930, was present on the Argentina bench as coach in 123 games.
Record: 7 Copas Americas, including a first in 1941, and a last in 1959.
So for Didier Deschamps to beat Guillermo Stabile's record, there is still a long way to go.
He would have to stay in office until… 2033.