African giants Senegal are reportedly preparing to appoint former Arsenal captain and France international Patrick Vieira as their new head coach following the departure of Pape Thiaw.
Thiaw left his position with the Lions of Teranga after Senegal’s Round of 32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The search for a successor has been ongoing in recent weeks, with several names linked to the role, but reports now indicate that Vieira is the preferred choice.
Vieira’s coaching journey
The French legend has been without a club since leaving Serie A side Genoa at the end of the 2024/25 season. This would represent Vieira’s first role in international football after previous coaching spells in Ligue 1, the Premier League and most recently in Italy.
Vieira enjoyed a distinguished playing career, captaining Arsenal during a highly successful period and winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. Born in Dakar, he maintains strong ties to Senegal and has previously been involved in football development in the country.
New technical team
According to reports, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) also plans to appoint Teungueth FC coach Malick Daf as assistant coach. Daf has experience with Senegal’s youth national teams, and the federation believes his local knowledge will prove a valuable asset alongside Vieira.
Looking Ahead
The appointment, if confirmed, would signal a new chapter for the Teranga Lions as they look to rebuild after the World Cup and prepare for upcoming continental and international assignments. Vieira’s experience as both a top-level player and coach is expected to bring fresh ideas and leadership to the national team setup.
Official confirmation from the FSF is still awaited, but the reports strongly suggest that the Arsenal legend is set to take charge of one of Africa’s leading football nations.