Patrick Vieira has been named the new head coach of Senegal's men's national team, the country's football federation announced today. The 50-year-old replaces Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed following Senegal's round-of-32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in July.
Vieira was born in Dakar, Senegal's capital, but moved to France at age eight and went on to represent Les Bleus internationally. He won over 100 caps for France, lifting the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. He also served as captain of Arsenal during his time in the English Premier League.
The Senegal football federation said the appointment reflects its "desire to strengthen its high-level technical staff" and is "perfectly aligned" with the nation's sporting ambitions. Details of Vieira's contract and his starting date remain under discussion, with the federation indicating that an official presentation and further details will be communicated later.
Vieira's most recent managerial position was at Italian club Genoa, which he left in November 2025 after 11 months in charge with the side bottom of Serie A. He has also managed in the English Premier League previously.
Thiaw, who had been in charge since 2024, oversaw Senegal's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in which the team won the final. However, the African football federation stripped Senegal of the title 57 days later and awarded it to Morocco. Senegal's subsequent appeal is scheduled to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in October.
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