Senegal have officially appointed former France international and World Cup winner Patrick Vieira as their new senior national team head coach. The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
The 50-year-old, who was born in Dakar, replaces Pape Thiaw, whose tenure ended following Senegal’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Senegal were knocked out in the Round of 32, prompting a change in the national team’s technical leadership.
Vieira brings considerable experience from European football. As a player, he was a key member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning and Euro 2000-winning teams, while also enjoying a decorated club career, particularly with Arsenal.
As a coach, he has managed New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa, making the Senegal job his first position as a national-team head coach.
His immediate challenge will be to build a new era for the Lions of Teranga, with preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations among the key priorities. The federation said further details about his official presentation will be announced later.
