Former France midfielder Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of Senegal, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced on Tuesday.
Vieira takes over from Pape Thiaw, whose tenure concluded after Senegal’s elimination from this year’s World Cup in the round of 32.
“Mr Patrick Vieira is the new coach of Senegal’s senior national team. The date of the official presentation and the next steps in his installation will be the subject of a subsequent announcement,” the FSF stated on X.
This marks the 50-year-old’s first role as a national team coach, following previous managerial positions at clubs in England, France, and Italy.
Vieira’s club experience includes managing Crystal Palace in the Premier League, French clubs Nice and Strasbourg, and a brief period in charge of Serie A side Genoa.
Vieira was born in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, and went on to become one of France’s most distinguished midfielders, Vieira was a key member of the teams that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, earning over 100 caps. At club level, he is most recognised for his time with Arsenal, where he made more than 400 appearances and secured three Premier League titles.
Vieira’s first matches at the helm of Senegal will be during next month’s international window. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions are continuing their preparations for the 2027 tournament, with qualifiers set to commence as early as September.
