Didier Deschamps, no

Published:

By: Manu Tournoux

Didier Deschamps, no

For his third and final World Cup as coach of the France team, Didier Deschamps failed to lead the Blues to a third final in a row.

None are missing: the star players of the French team William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé are among the 30 nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The 100 journalists on the international jury will now be able to establish their top 10 and the result will be revealed on Monday October 26 in London. Warren Zaire-Emery and Éli Junior Kroupi are in the running for the best youngster trophy (ex-Kopa Trophy), while Wendie Renard, Selma Bacha and Melvine Malard are in the 30 for the women’s Ballon d’Or.

What about Didier Deschamps? Quite logically, the coach of the Blues during the 2026 World Cup is not named among the five technicians for the trophy for best coach of the year. In three editions, no French coach has yet been named for this title created by France Football and named the Johan Cruyff Trophy last year.

Didier Deschamps coach of the year in 2018

For this Coach of the Season trophy, which will be awarded during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, we find the title holder Luis Enrique, who achieved the double in the Champions League. His main rival is Luis de la Fuente, the coach of the Spanish world champions. Two other Spanish technicians are eligible: Mikel Arteta, English champion with Arsenal and unfortunate finalist in the Champions League, as well as Unai Emery, who won the Europa League with Aston Villa. Vincent Kompany, coach of Bayern Munich, German champion and LDC semi-finalist (eliminated by PSG), is the last coach nominated for this award.

During his 14-year reign at the head of the France team, Deschamps was honored in 2018 with the title of The Best Coach of the Year awarded by Fifa. He has never made another podium, even with Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.