After leading the French team to the end of their FIFA World Cup journey, Deschamps gave an exclusive interview, looking back at his coaching career and looking forward to future coaching opportunities.

Good evening, Didier. We are at a very important moment, because this FIFA World Cup is your "last dance", the end of an era. The past 14 years have been incredible; you've experienced many victories, and of course, many failures and criticisms from the outside world. For years, you refused to talk about yourself before talking about the team, but now that you're nearing the end of your coaching career, do you allow yourself to assess what you've accomplished? And what has this adventure brought to you personally?

I would need a lot of time to think about these things, but I have never seen myself as the most important person. The French team is above everything; it doesn't belong to me. I just served it, and served it with a mission for 14 years.

Of course, I remember the first day I was appointed as head coach, I remember my first press conference, and I remember what I said in the locker room: nothing is above this jersey. For them, there's nothing better than that.

In my professional life, it will be hard to experience something like this again. Today is a very special day for me, because my team and I were focused on getting third place in the FIFA World Cup. In the first half, we were almost completely in the dark, but fortunately, we responded later. We almost climbed a mountain that was almost impossible to climb, but ultimately failed.

I won't limit everything to this last match. What's more important is everything I've experienced, and my team, because I'm not alone; I have many capable people around me, and this is an adventure that belongs to us.

The French team has very, very good players, and it deserves to have a bright future. I feel a lot through the many messages I've received, especially from former players I've coached, and from the current players. Communicating and discussing with them, and accompanying young players as they grow, has truly brought me immense joy.

Many of them were playing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time, and there was indeed disappointment, but we can't explain everything. We came up against a very strong Spanish team, and for various reasons, we were not in our best condition.

At some point, even if you have the quality of the French team, things need to tilt in your favor. Of course, I can't complain. Could I have done better? I did everything, not alone, but with the team, to keep the French team at the highest possible level and stay there for as long as possible. This is also my wish for them and for all the players.

14 years is a lot for me. Starting tonight, I will once again be a silent supporter. I will forbid myself from publicly discussing the French team again, because I have a duty of reservation. Maybe I'm different from others, but I will demand this of myself, just as I will forbid myself from doing other things.

Next, I need to think about myself, something I haven't done often in the past. First, I need to recover well with my family. As for what awaits me, I don't know, but it will be something different and good. I will approach it with the same mindset and passion.

There's a question I've been thinking about. For 14 years, including this FIFA World Cup, you have been protecting this team. But during your tenure, who protected you?

Someone protected me too. Frankly, I've been disconnected from the outside world for almost 10 years now. Otherwise, I wouldn't still be in the head coach position; I might have gone crazy or been provoked long ago.

This is our profession; we are exposed to criticism. I know who I'm dealing with, who is speaking, and whether there's good or ill will behind it. Today, I don't want to judge the media; it's pointless, and I have no scores to settle.

For me, what matters most is the internal life, the elements I hold in my hands. The most important thing is not what can be said or written outside, but what I truly experience every day, communicating with people every day, living a normal life. Life is beautiful and happy.

You said you don't know what will happen next. But we know Deschamps is someone who values control and mastery. Does not being able to control what comes next scare you?

I am in control, because I decided that it (coaching the French team) should end. And I sincerely tell you, I made this decision not for myself, but for the benefit of the French team.

Perhaps I haven't said this before, but now I can honestly say: I made this decision not for myself. Because the environment around me had become too suffocating, and the French team shouldn't have to bear that.

This didn't happen in a day either. Since the announcement, I've been thinking. It's much better for the French team this way. I like to be in control, and I was in control. I could have made the decision before the FIFA World Cup, or during it, but I didn't, because I respect the French team too much. Everything has its time.

I will take time to recover, but I won't be idle either. Because of football and the French team, I am a lucky person; I have freedom and choices.

Does the unknown of the future scare you? There are rumors, for example, about the Italian national team coach?

Rumors... I do have some offers, and I will take my time to decide.

So, do you know what you want?

I won't suddenly turn myself into a pastry chef, a politician, or anything else. I will continue to be in the world of football; football is my passion and a part of my life.

If it's another national team, is that possible? Or do you lean more towards a club? It's a bit hard for me to imagine Deschamps coaching a team other than France.

I won't give you a definitive answer. In football, there are two career paths, unless I become an administrator, but I don't have those management ambitions. I'm still young, so there are two possibilities in football: club coach or national team manager. Both are possible.

Looking back now, are there any decisions you regret? Or are there any players you wish you had talked to more, in more depth?

I have no regrets. From experience, I no longer ask myself these questions, because I have no answers. I don't know if doing that would have been better or worse. At some point, I might have made other decisions, but I made decisions at the time based on the information I had, because I believed they were the right decisions.

If I must have regrets, of course, one can always wish for better. But sometimes, you also have to consider worse possibilities. This is also my personality: my happiness is enough for me. I don't even wish misfortune upon my worst enemies, if such people even exist.

I spend more time with those who love me and those I deem worthy; as for others, not so much.

Is this the rule of sports? You win a lot, but sometimes you're still a bit lonely.

Yes, often it is. But I must say, in sports, losing is the norm, not winning.

I am very clear that in the world of football, when you are a coach or manager, if the team wins, it's credit to the players; if the team loses, it's the coach's fault. But this doesn't affect my sleep; I sleep very well, and I am calm about this.

I will think, I will communicate with the technical team, and then at some point make important decisions. I need this; it's my source of adrenaline. I've always lived within it, and I feel my body and mind need it.

I have many more questions I'd like to ask you, but time is running out. One last question: Before you leave, is there a stereotype about Didier Deschamps that you wish to correct? Is there a collective subconscious perception that makes you think, "What is going on, why do people think this way?"

There is one, because it's often brought up. My son is grown now, but when he was little, many players would visit him and say, "Wow, it must not be easy having a dad like that at home."

But I'm not that kind of person. I don't deliberately cultivate an image. I'm natural, and it doesn't take effort for me. I adapt to the new generation of players; they are more outgoing, need more physical contact, and need more companionship. But actually, I've always been like this.

I love life. Being with my team, whether it's things on the field, or all the shared moments, lunch, dinner, we talk about everything, those are happy moments.

I like life. I'm relatively serious, but I also like to joke, and tease people; that's part of life too.

The only thing, perhaps I'm not very aware of it myself, is that sometimes I might give the impression of being a bit rigid, or even a bit intimidating. Of course, I'm not faking it, but I'm not always aware of this. In fact, I am approachable, and willing to communicate with people; I strive to do so.

My family gave me a good upbringing and values. And the values of these people are as important as the values on the field.

It was truly a pleasure for me to follow you in this FIFA World Cup. And since this is your last one, I personally want to thank you. I don't think I'll experience anything better in the future, can I just end my career now? No, no, I'm joking.

You are still young, and the future is ahead of you. Thank you again for your companionship and support. As I've said, it's a blessing to share so many emotions with tens of millions of French people.

There will be pain, because we can't always win; but there's also a lot of pride. That's the magic of sports and football. Football can turn tears into laughter in one minute. This adrenaline is so wonderful.

Finally, I just want to say that there are very wonderful professional successes in many fields, but they cannot know what it feels like to have this kind of adrenaline in sports. It consumes a lot of energy, but it is so, so wonderful.

Thank you everyone, thank you all.

Thank you, Didier Deschamps.

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