SENEGAL HAVE APPOINTED France’s 1998 World Cup winner Patrick Vieira as head coach, succeeding Pape Thiaw who was dismissed after the recent World Cup.
The appointment of Vieira, who was born in Senegal, is a “strategic move”, the federation said in a social media post, aiming to “establish a high-level technical set-up, in line with our country’s sporting ambitions”.
The former Arsenal man’s mission will be to revitalise the team after Senegal’s bruising defeat against Belgium in the last 32 of the World Cup.
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Thiaw was sacked less than two weeks later. The 45-year-old former Senegal international had taken over as national team boss in 2024.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) president said at the time that toxicity had surrounded the team at the World Cup after Thiaw demanded a pay rise.
After ending his playing career at Manchester City, Vieira cut his coaching teeth at New York City FC from 2016 before taking over French top-flight side Nice from 2018 to 2020.
The 50-year-old returned to England as manager of Premier League side Crystal Palace in 2021 but was sacked in March 2023 after a 12-match winless run. He subsequently had short stints at Strasbourg and Italian side Genoa.
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France and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira appointed new Senegal head coach
SENEGAL HAVE APPOINTED France’s 1998 World Cup winner Patrick Vieira as head coach, succeeding Pape Thiaw who was dismissed after the recent World Cup.
The appointment of Vieira, who was born in Senegal, is a “strategic move”, the federation said in a social media post, aiming to “establish a high-level technical set-up, in line with our country’s sporting ambitions”.
The former Arsenal man’s mission will be to revitalise the team after Senegal’s bruising defeat against Belgium in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Thiaw was sacked less than two weeks later. The 45-year-old former Senegal international had taken over as national team boss in 2024.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) president said at the time that toxicity had surrounded the team at the World Cup after Thiaw demanded a pay rise.
After ending his playing career at Manchester City, Vieira cut his coaching teeth at New York City FC from 2016 before taking over French top-flight side Nice from 2018 to 2020.
The 50-year-old returned to England as manager of Premier League side Crystal Palace in 2021 but was sacked in March 2023 after a 12-match winless run. He subsequently had short stints at Strasbourg and Italian side Genoa.
– © AFP 2026
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