Patrick Vieira, the former Arsenal and France captain, has been appointed head coach of the Senegal men's national team, the country's football federation (FSF) confirmed.

The 50-year-old takes charge of the Teranga Lions following the dismissal of Pape Thiaw, who was sacked after Senegal's last-32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Vieira was born in Dakar before relocating to France at the age of 8. He went on to earn more than 100 caps for Les Bleus, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. He now returns to manage the nation of his birth.

The FSF stated that the appointment reflects its "desire to strengthen its high-level technical staff" and is "perfectly aligned" with Senegal's sporting ambitions. The precise terms of Vieira's contract and his official start date are still being finalised.

His first competitive matches as Senegal head coach are expected to arrive next month, when the Teranga Lions begin their qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

From Genoa to Dakar

Vieira arrives in the role having most recently managed Genoa in Serie A. He departed the Italian club by mutual consent last November after the team found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table. During the 2024-25 season he guided Genoa to safety, winning eight and drawing nine of his 26 matches to secure a 13th-place finish. His 2025-26 campaign, however, yielded just two wins in all competitions — both in the Coppa Italia — before his exit.

As a player, midfielder Vieira claimed three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal, and added further silverware with AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Manchester City before retiring in 2011.

His managerial career began with New York City in 2016. He later led Nice to seventh in Ligue 1 before being sacked in December 2020. A spell at Crystal Palace followed, where he guided the Eagles to 12th in the Premier League and an FA Cup semi-final in 2021-22, before his dismissal in March 2023 after a 12-game winless run. He then took charge of RC Strasbourg — the first managerial appointment under BlueCo, the ownership group behind Chelsea — but left by mutual consent in July 2024.

The shadow of the 2025 Afcon final

Vieira inherits a team still dealing with the fallout from one of African football's most controversial moments. His predecessor Thiaw was at the heart of the storm in January when he led Senegal off the pitch during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty to Morocco.

Following a delay of approximately 17 minutes, the players returned to the field. Brahim Diaz's penalty was saved, and Pape Gueye struck an extra-time winner for Senegal. Despite that result on the night, the Confederation of African Football appeals board overturned the outcome in March and declared Morocco the tournament winners.

Senegal have since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a hearing scheduled for 8 October.