Patrick Vieira Appointed Senegal Head Coach

Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of Senegal's men's national team, BBC Sport reported on Tuesday. The former Arsenal and France captain replaces Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed after Senegal's exit in the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Senegal's football federation said the appointment was intended to strengthen its high-level technical staff and align with the country's sporting ambitions. However, the federation has not completed every element of the arrangement: details of Vieira's contract and the date on which he will formally begin work are still being discussed.

Vieira's first matches with the Teranga Lions are expected to come next month in qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. That prospective schedule gives the 50-year-old a short runway before competitive international fixtures, although the unresolved starting date leaves some uncertainty over the precise timing of his first involvement.

The role also carries a personal connection for Vieira. He was born in Dakar and moved to France at the age of eight. He later made more than 100 appearances for France, winning the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship before ending a club career that included three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal.

His most recent coaching job was at Genoa, which he left by mutual consent last November while the club was bottom of Serie A. Vieira had guided Genoa to safety and a 13th-place finish in 2024-25, recording eight wins and nine draws in 26 games. The following campaign produced only two victories before his departure, both in the Coppa Italia.

Vieira began his senior managerial career with New York City in 2016 and later coached Nice, Crystal Palace and Strasbourg before moving to Genoa. At Palace, he led the club to 12th place in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-finals in 2021-22. He now takes charge of a Senegal side preparing for Africa Cup of Nations qualifying while the final terms of his appointment are settled.