Diallo doesn’t rule out possibility of Thierry Henry succeeding Didier Deschamps

The President of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, was reluctant to rule out the possibility that Thierry Henry could one day succeed Didier Deschamps as manager of the France national team.

Speaking to RMC Sport, Diallo was unwilling to close the door on the idea of Henry taking over from Deschamps when the head coach eventually chooses to step down from the role he has held since 2012. This is particularly the case following Henry’s success in leading the Olympic team to the final where they’ll take on Spain on Friday evening.

Diallo when asked about the possibility of Henry replacing Deschamps stated, “Henry, when I appointed him to this position [head coach of the U21s and the Olympic U23s], there were some who had doubts given what he had done previously. I had confidence in him and he is proving it.” The president continued, “We still have one more game to go. There is still this step to take and then next year there will be the U21 Euros… Each of the steps must be taken before talking about anything else.”

If Henry were to guide France to an Olympic gold it would be the nation’s first medal since the 1984 Olympics where they defeated Brazil 2-0, and would likely put him in good stead with the Federation for when they have to choose Deschamps’s successor. However, Deschamps still has a contract lasting until after the 2026 World Cup, while Henry’s lasts only until 2025.