Patrick Vieira has been named the new head coach of Senegal's men's national team, marking a return to his homeland for the former Arsenal and France captain. The 50-year-old succeeds Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed following Senegal's last-32 exit from the 2026 World Cup.
Vieira was born in Dakar but moved to France at the age of eight, going on to represent Les Bleus more than 100 times and lift both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 during a decorated playing career. He now takes the reins of the Teranga Lions, the country of his birth, in what the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) described as a strategic step toward elevating its coaching setup. In a statement, the federation said the appointment reflects its