Didier Deschamps will lead France for the final time on home soil when they host Northern Ireland in a friendly at Decathlon Arena - Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille on Monday, in what promises to be an emotional send-off before the squad departs for the United States and the FIFA World Cup.

The 57-year-old is set to end a 14-year reign as France manager when Les Bleus conclude their World Cup campaign this summer. Already a legend as the captain who lifted the World Cup trophy in 1998, Deschamps cemented his place in football history in 2018 by becoming only the third person to win the tournament as both a player and a manager.

His record as manager extends beyond that triumph — he guided France to the 2018 World Cup final, the Euro 2016 final, and the UEFA Nations League title in 2021.

Tribute from the stands

Ahead of the Lille match, supporter tributes have already begun. During France's previous outing — a surprise 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in Nantes — fans held up cardboard cut-outs bearing Deschamps' image throughout the match, a gesture the manager acknowledged warmly.