Patrick Vieira emerges as leading candidate for Senegal head coach role after Pape Thiaw exit

Patrick Vieira is the frontrunner to become the next Senegal head coach, with the former Arsenal captain in advanced talks to succeed Pape Thiaw, according to Foot Mercato.

The Senegalese Football Federation has moved quickly to identify a replacement for Thiaw, whose departure process is under way following the country’s elimination from World Cup 2026. Vieira, currently out of work after leaving Genoa, is understood to be the preferred option to lead the Lions de la Teranga into a new era.

Thiaw’s future was effectively sealed by Senegal’s painful exit in the last 16. After defeats by France and Norway in the group stage, Senegal recovered to beat Iraq and claim a place in the knockout phase. They then appeared on course for the quarter-finals when they went 2-0 up against Belgium, only to concede three times and lose 3-2 after extra time.

The manner of that collapse prompted heavy criticism of the technical staff and intensified scrutiny of Thiaw’s decisions during the tournament. While his overall results with the national team had been viewed as encouraging, the World Cup campaign was considered a major missed opportunity and accelerated calls for change.

Vieira viewed as ideal profile

Against that backdrop, Senegalese football authorities have opted to seek what has been described as a “new dynamic” on the bench. Discussions with Vieira are said to be progressing positively, with the federation seeing him as an almost tailor-made candidate for the job.

Born in Dakar, Vieira would bring both local roots and substantial experience from a coaching career that has already taken in New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa. His status as a World Cup winner with France and his long spell as Arsenal captain add further weight to his candidacy in the eyes of decision-makers in Dakar.

For now, however, the federation must complete the formalities of Thiaw’s exit before any appointment can be confirmed. The termination of his tenure still requires ratification from the Ministry of Sports and other relevant authorities before a new contract can be finalised.

Other candidates considered

Several other coaches have been assessed in recent weeks as part of the federation’s search. Herve Renard, a coach with extensive international experience, has been among the names studied for the role.

Another possible option, Omar Daf, has also been discussed internally, but that track has never developed significant momentum and has not emerged as a serious front-runner.

At this stage, all indications point to Vieira as the clear favourite to take charge of Senegal’s national team. Barring an unexpected late twist in negotiations or in the approval process surrounding Thiaw’s departure, the 48-year-old is expected to be the leading candidate when the federation makes its final decision on the next Lions de la Teranga head coach.