Frenchman Could Become Senegal's National Team Coach

Former Genoa head coach Patrick Vieira has emerged as a leading candidate for the Senegal national team manager position.

According to Foot Mercato, the Senegalese Football Federation is actively negotiating with the 50-year-old French coach. The two parties have held several meetings in recent days, with discussions progressing positively.

However, the official appointment of a new head coach is not yet possible. The Federation previously announced the dismissal of Pape Thiaw following the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, where Senegal lost 3-2 to Belgium in the Round of 16. The decision to terminate his contract still awaits approval from the country's Ministry of Sports.

In addition to Vieira, the Federation is considering other options. Hervé Renard, who coached the Tunisian national team at this summer's 2026 World Cup, is among the mentioned candidates.

Meanwhile, insider Fabrizio Romano reports that negotiations between Vieira and the Senegalese Football Federation are indeed ongoing but are in the early stages. According to Romano, an agreement between the parties has not yet been reached.

Despite his French citizenship, Vieira was born in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Since leaving Genoa in the autumn of 2025, he has not yet secured a new role in the sports world.