Senegal have appointed France’s 1998 World Cup winner Patrick Vieira as their new head coach, the country’s football federation announced Tuesday, replacing Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed following the team’s World Cup exit.
The appointment of Vieira, who was born in Senegal, is a “strategic move” aimed at “establishing a high-level technical staff, in line with our country’s sporting ambitions”, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said in a social media post.
Vieira’s main task will be to revitalise the team after Senegal’s bruising defeat by Belgium in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Thiaw was sacked less than two weeks after the defeat. The 45-year-old former Senegal international had taken charge of the national team in 2024.
The FSF president said at the time that a toxic atmosphere had surrounded the team during the World Cup after Thiaw demanded a pay rise.
Vieira’s appointment was ratified on Monday, the FSF said. His official presentation and onboarding will take place at a later, unspecified date.
The 50-year-old Vieira was a key member of an outstanding Arsenal side that won the English league title three times between 1998 and 2004. He later moved to Juventus and then Inter Milan in Italy.
After ending his playing career at Manchester City, Vieira began his coaching career with New York City FC in 2016 before taking charge of French top-flight side Nice in 2018.
He returned to England as manager of Premier League club Crystal Palace in 2021 but was sacked in March 2023 after a 12-match winless run. He subsequently had brief spells in charge of Strasbourg and Italian club Genoa.
Vieira won 107 caps for France and was part of the team that lifted the 1998 World Cup on home soil. He also won the European Championship two years later.
AFP
