Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of the Senegal national team, marking a return to management for the former Arsenal and France midfielder after a period without a club job.
The 50-year-old, who was born in Dakar before moving to France as a child, takes charge of the Teranga Lions following his exit from Italian side Genoa last November. He had remained unemployed since that departure until Senegal's football federation confirmed his appointment.
Vieira succeeds Pape Thiaw, who was relieved of his duties after Senegal's exit from the World Cup at the round of 32 stage, where they were beaten by Belgium. Thiaw's dismissal came at the end of a turbulent campaign for the national team, capping months of upheaval both on and off the pitch.
Announcing the appointment, a statement on Senegal's national team account read: "Mr Patrick Vieira is the new coach of the Senegalese national A team. The date of the official presentation and the next steps in its installation will be communicated at a later date. Welcome to Senegal, coach."
Vieira's playing career remains among the most decorated of his generation. As a combative midfielder, he captained Arsenal to three Premier League titles during a golden era for the club, and represented France with distinction, earning 107 caps. He was part of the French squads that triumphed at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, cementing his status as one of the finest players of his era.
His managerial career, however, has been more mixed. After hanging up his boots, Vieira moved into coaching with spells at Nice and New York City FC in Major League Soccer. He then took charge of Crystal Palace in the Premier League for two seasons before leaving the south London club in March 2023. He subsequently joined French side Strasbourg before a 12-month tenure at Genoa in Serie A, which ended in his dismissal last year.
Vieira now inherits a Senegal side that has experienced a rollercoaster period. The team were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions in January, edging out host nation Morocco 1-0 after extra time in a dramatic final. That match was overshadowed by controversy when Senegal's players staged a walk-off protest in stoppage time after Morocco were awarded a penalty with the scoreline level at 0-0. Following a stoppage of around 20 minutes, play resumed, and Brahim Diaz saw his spot-kick saved before the match progressed to extra time, where Senegal ultimately prevailed.
That victory, though, has since been thrown into doubt. The Confederation of African Football's appeals board later overturned the result following Senegal's protest, awarding Morocco a 3-0 forfeit win and, with it, the Afcon title. The dispute is not yet settled, with the case now referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where a hearing has been scheduled for 8 October.
Amid that unresolved controversy, Senegal's form at the World Cup proved underwhelming, as they lost three of their four group and knockout matches, falling to France, Norway and Belgium.
Vieira will now be tasked with restoring stability and building a squad capable of competing at the highest level, while the federation navigates the ongoing legal battle over the disputed Afcon crown. Details of his official unveiling and the timeline for his first matches in charge are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Based on reporting from The Independent.