Former Arsenal and France captain Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of the Senegal national team.
The 50-year-old replaces Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed following Senegal’s elimination in the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Vieira moved to France at the age of eight and went on to become one of the country’s most decorated footballers. He earned more than 100 international caps for France and won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.
The Senegalese Football Federation said Vieira’s appointment was aimed at strengthening the national team’s technical setup and supporting the country’s sporting ambitions.
Details of Vieira’s contract and official start date are yet to be finalised, but his first matches are expected to come next month when Senegal begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Vieira returns to international management after leaving Italian club Genoa by mutual consent in November 2025. He had guided the club to a 13th-place finish in Serie A during the 2024/25 season but departed after a difficult start to the following campaign.
As a player, Vieira won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal, as well as domestic honours with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Manchester City. He retired in 2011 before beginning his coaching career.
He managed New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa, among other clubs.
His appointment comes as Senegal continue to deal with the fallout from the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
Thiaw had taken his players off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. The players returned after about 17 minutes, but Senegal went on to win in extra time.
However, the Confederation of African Football’s appeals board later overturned the result and declared Morocco the winners.
Senegal have appealed the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with the case scheduled to be heard on October 8.
Vieira will now be tasked with rebuilding the Teranga Lions and guiding them through their upcoming international commitments.
