Didier Deschamps has stood in France’s dugout since the 2014 World Cup, then from 2018 to the 2022 World Cup. If everything goes well, he will be in charge of the coach of the French in the 2026 World Cup. Argentina has also talked about taking the old Coaches to the World Cup to be held in USA-Canada and Mexico. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is counting on Lionel Scaloni to manage Lionel Messi in Qatar until 2026.
Scaloni and Didier Deschamps have one thing in common—both are World Cup-winning coaches. Both have led the team to the finals of the 2022 World Cup. Success is the main reason for increasing the confidence of the authorities in them. But many of the rest in the productive professional world has been cut by the knife of distrust. Some have been removed from the position of coach, and some have left on their own. The number of coaches who have become vacant after the World Cup in Qatar is 11.
The biggest name among them is Tite. He took charge of Brazil in 2016. He went to Qatar with the team for six years with the dream of winning the title. But that dream was shattered in the quarter-finals. Tite announced his resignation hours after losing the tiebreaker to Croatia. Brazil has yet to appoint a replacement.
After the World Cup, the coaching chapter has come to an end for Louis van Gaal as well.
The 71-year-old coach was previously the coach of the Netherlands team. Sometimes he was out of coaching due to cancer. In 2021, the Netherlands came to Qatar for the third time as one of the favorites. However, in the quarter-finals, they lost to Argentina in a tiebreaker and had to leave.
The former coach of Manchester United resigned before the Dutch Football Federation said anything. Many thought that he might not do coaching anymore because of his age. But a few days ago, he showed interest in becoming the coach of the Portugal team. Said that Portugal will consider their proposal if they want. The Netherlands, however, has filled the coach position with former coach Ronald Koeman.
Tite and Von Galra also managed to take the team to the last eight, with Roberto Martinez among the coaches heading to Qatar as title contenders unable to get past the group. Martinez took charge of Belgium six years ago. Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne’s team was called the ‘Golden Generation’.
Martinez reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the first major tournament with this ‘golden generation’. However, in Euro 2020, they have to be knocked out in the quarter-finals. Then came the catastrophe in Qatar. Belgium scored only 1 goal in three matches of the group stage and got stuck with 4 points in the first round. The authorities might have released Martinez if he hadn’t resigned after such a disaster.
Coaches are becoming a much-discussed character in the World Cup
Spain’s Luis Enrique also quit after taking responsibility for the loss. Spain has departed this year’s World Cup much like the 2018 World Cup. That time against Russia, the match went to a tiebreaker, where they were eliminated from the second round. This time the same situation happened in Qatar, the opponent was Morocco.
Morocco beat Spain in the second round, knocking Portugal out of the quarters. The coach of this team was Fernando Santos. This 2016 Euro-winning coach became a much-discussed character in the World Cup by benching Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo was not included in the starting XI against Switzerland in the second round and against Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Santos is blamed by many for the fact that Portugal, rich in talented young players, has not progressed far. After the World Cup, he did not want to be in charge with such a bad name.
Mexico coach Gerardo Martino has also been criticized for the failure. Playing under him, Mexico was eliminated from the group stage. The team could not make it to the second round as they were behind the goal difference in the group of Poland, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia with 4 points. After 1978, Argentina was eliminated from the group stage for the first time, and the Mexican Football Federation removed Martino.
The South Korean Football Federation is happy with their Coaches
The South Korean Football Federation, however, was happy with Paul Bento. The Asian giants made it to the second round after defeating Portugal in the group stage. South Korea wanted to keep Bento in charge despite losing to Brazil in the knockouts. However, this Portuguese coach did not want to extend his time with one team for 4 years.
Czesław Michniewicz, who took Poland to the second round, however, quietly stepped down. He was criticized for his defensive tactics after losing to France in the second round. Meanwhile, the Polish Football Federation did not extend his contract as his contract expired.
Oto Addo took charge of Ghana ten months before the World Cup. Ghana beat South Korea in the group stage under him. But in the end, could not make it to the second round. After leaving the World Cup, he announced his resignation.
Almost the same thing happened in Iran. Carlos Queiroz, who had done the same job before, took over just three months before the World Cup. He did not want to continue his duties after England and USA were eliminated from the group.
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez also resigned by mutual consent. Qatar was eager to do something good as the host of the World Cup. Felix, who coached Qatar’s U-19 and U-23 teams, was tasked with managing the team at the World Cup. But Qatar lost all three matches in the group stage, scoring only one goal.
