Article by Adrian Duţă – Published Friday, April 10, 2026 6:44 p.m. / Updated Friday, April 10, 2026 7:27 p.m.
real madrid are already looking for alternatives to replace him Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season, and the management of the club from the capital of Spain set their sights on a world champion. It is about Didier Deschamps (57 years old), the French national team coach.
The Hexagon coach will leave the national team after this summer's World Cup after 14 years at the helm of France. He won the WC 2018, reached the final in 2022, ticking off a 2nd place at EURO 2016.
His contract expires in July and he will not continue. He has a good chance of taking over a club, being wanted in both Europe and Saudi Arabia. The world champion as both player and coach is on Real Madrid's shortlist, according to French media.
The French announce: “Didier Deschamps, on the shortlist from Real Madrid”
“The end of Didier Deschamps' tenure at the helm of the France national team is being closely watched by big clubs looking for a big-name coach, including Real Madrid, who have included the France international on their target list.
The end of one cycle, the beginning of another? After 14 years in charge of the France national football team, Didier Deschamps will end his tenure after the 2026 World Cup. Although his replacement seems already set, with Zinédine Zidane the favorite to take over, there is little indication of Deschamps' future after he steps down from Les Bleus.
Several clubs, not only from Europe, are interested in the services of the captain of the 1998 world champions. According to our information, Real Madrid has included Didier Deschamps on its short list of possible coaches.
Sources from his entourage claim that he has the freedom to choose and does not rule out any option. Having offers from Europe, but also from Saudi Arabia, it is clear that he has plenty to choose from”, writes RMC Sport.
Didier Deschamps, France coach/ photo Getty Images
The reasons why Deschamps is wanted at Real Madrid
How Real Madrid got Didier Deschamps. According to the quoted source, the Spanish team wants a coach who can brilliantly manage a dressing room full of stars, as the French coach has done in recent years.
In addition, the technician has an excellent relationship with Kylian Mbappe, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, key men at Real Madrid.
9 trophieswon Deschamps as a coach, with 3 teams: Marseille, Monaco and the French national team
Also, the leadership of the “blanco” team puts Deschamps' CV in the balance. As a coach, he won the title with Marseille, promoted Juventus to Serie A, reached the Champions League final with Monaco and won the world title with France.
And as a player he was a big name, being a key player in the French national team's trophies won in 1998 (CM) and 2000 (EURO). He has 3 titles with Juventus, two with OM and one UCL trophy each with the two clubs where he made history in midfield.
Real Madrid, close to another missed season
Real Madrid started the season with Xabi Alonso on the bench, the Spaniard replacing Carlo Ancelotti. The former champion with Leverkusen in the Bundesliga lasted only half a season, after losing the “blank” dressing room.
In his place was appointed Alvaro Arbeloa, who was promoted from the second team. Although he is close to the president Florentino Perez, he has little chance of continuing from the summer, in the context of the disappointing results.
After 30 stages in La Liga, the Whites are 7 points behind Barcelona and have little chance of winning the title again. In the UCL, they are one step away from elimination, after 1-2 at home with Bayern in the first leg of the quarters.
