Patrick Vieira Takes Over as Head Coach of Senegal’s Teranga Lions

Patrick Vieira, the celebrated former Arsenal and France captain, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Senegal men's national football team, the Teranga Lions. The 50-year-old takes over from Pape Thiaw, who was sacked following the team's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Vieira, who was born in Dakar, Senegal, will now manage the country of his birth. He moved to France at age eight and went on to earn over 100 caps for the French national team, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) stated that Vieira's appointment aligns with their "desire to strengthen its high-level technical staff" and the nation's sporting ambitions. Contract details and his start date are still under discussion, but his first matches are expected to be in next month's qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

This appointment follows Vieira's recent coaching roles in Europe. He left his position as Genoa head coach by mutual consent last November. During the 2024-25 season, he guided the Italian club to safety and a 13th-place finish in Serie A, winning eight and drawing nine of his 26 league games. However, his tenure included only two wins in 25-26, both in the Coppa Italia.

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desire to strengthen its high-level technical staff

During his illustrious playing career, Vieira won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal, alongside silverware with AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Manchester City. After retiring in 2011, he transitioned into management, starting with New York City in 2016. He later managed Nice, leading them to seventh place in Ligue 1 in his debut season, before being sacked in December 2020. He then took charge of Crystal Palace in 2021, guiding them to 12th in the Premier League and an FA Cup semi-final appearance in 2021-22, but was dismissed in March 2023 after a lengthy winless streak. His most recent role was with RC Strasbourg, from which he departed by mutual consent in July 2024.

Vieira's predecessor, Pape Thiaw, was involved in a controversial incident in January when he led his Senegal team off the field during the 2025 AFCON final after Morocco was awarded a late penalty.

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perfectly aligned