Combative, hardworking, and stamina are some traits that marked Didier Deschamps as a player. The midfielder was reliable in his role, playing on the defensive side of the midfield, breaking up play and getting the attack on – a role that earned the unflattering nickname “the water carrier” by outspoken former France teammate Eric Cantona.
Deschamps enjoyed a successful career as a player; he was a born winner. He won the Champions League with Marseille and Juventus, three Italian league titles, FA Cup with Chelsea, among many others. His most famous moment playing would be lifting the World Cup trophy in 1998 as Les Bleus captain in Paris.
As a coach, Deschamps started winning from his first job with Monaco – he led the Municipality club to the Coupe de la Ligue trophy in 2003 and led them to the Champions League final, where they lost to Jose Mourinho’s Porto. At Juventus, Deschamps brought the Old Lady back to Serie A after their relegation a year earlier due to the famous Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. A league title, three Coupe de la Ligue, and two Trophee des Champions will follow at Marseille.
Despite all his club-level success, Deschamps would be remembered more for his exploits as France’s coach.
The Bayonne-born tactician took the helm 12 years ago as former teammate Laurent Blanc resigned after France’s quarter-finals loss to Spain.
Deschamps came on board and was tasked with changing the squad and bringing trophies to the French team again.
Les Bleus had not won any international trophy since Euro 2000 and were on the back of major international heartbreaks and a disjointed national team.
The 54-year-old’s first tournament was the World Cup in Brazil, but France were knocked out in the quarter-final by eventual champions Germany.
Deschamps stayed on and led France to the 2016 Euros hosted in the country, but they lost to Portugal in the final.
However, Les Bleus were inching closer to a trophy. An emerging crop of talents like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and others blended with established stars like Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba, N’golo Kante… France stunned the world, lifting their second World Cup in Russia in 2018.
Deschamps was in elite company, joining Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer of Germany as the only people to have won the World Cup as a player and coach.
With France in the final in Qatar, Deschamps could become only the second manager to lead a nation to victory at two separate World Cups, after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy in 1934 and 1938. The ‘water carrier’ has a date with history – not bad for a man who allegedly receives the ball and passes to the ‘more talented’ players.
Deschamps has won 14 of his 18 matches as manager at the World Cup (D2 L2); only Germany’s Helmut Schon (16) has more World Cup wins as a manager, while his win rate of 78% is the best of any manager to take charge of more than 10 World Cup matches.
In Qatar, Deschamps has managed an almost impossible injury situation. Christopher Nkunku, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez, Karim Benzema, Mike Maignan, Kante, and Pogba were all ruled out of the World Cup through injury. However, Hernandez got injured in the opening match.
However, with the likes of Pogba and Kante out, questions were asked of France’s midfield. Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot have stood out so far, while Antoine Griezmann’s importance to attack and defence cannot be overstated.
Les Bleus are in another final and can win a third title on Sunday. Deschamps has instilled his personality on the team. France could win games without being at their best, evident as they beat Morocco to book a finals spot.
Deschamps may be derided by a cluster of fans who feel his team should play more attractive football. But the 54-year-old’s man-management skills are more crucial than tactical wit.
“He has not fundamentally changed in the way of managing the team. I see him talk a lot more with the players now. He talks every day, more as we get closer to the match. He hasn’t really changed,” Giroud said about the coach.
For Deschamps though, everything is about the players.
“It’s always a huge honour when we get the results we wish for. I’m not the most important person. It’s the French team. Obviously, I’m proud. I know, everyone knows we have the chance to win another title,” Deschamps said after the match.
“It wasn’t easy, but with a mix of skills, experience, and a fighter’s mindset, even in the bad times. Even as a coach and manager, it’s mostly the satisfaction and the pride for the players here. I don’t really think about myself in these times, even if I like it too; it’s mainly for them,” he added.
