By Nadia Ntiamoah
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of the Senegal national team, marking a significant return to the country where he was born and the beginning of his first assignment in international management.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed Vieira’s appointment on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The 50-year-old succeeds Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed after Senegal’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Round of 32 stage.
Vieira’s appointment represents a major new chapter in a coaching career that has largely been built in European club football. His immediate responsibility will be to prepare the Teranga Lions for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin in September.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Vieira moved to France at the age of eight and went on to establish himself as one of the most decorated midfielders of his generation. Despite his Senegalese birthplace, he represented France throughout his international career, winning 107 caps.
