Patrick Vieira has officially been named the new head coach of Senegal's national football team, a role he called "honoured and proud" in a recent statement. Vieira, who is of Senegalese descent, was born in Dakar and lived in the country until he was eight years old before moving to France with his family. He began his professional career in France with the club Cannes and later became one of the most recognizable faces in French football, earning 107 caps for the national team. Vieira returned to Senegal in 2003, by which time he had become a global football star through his time at Arsenal and the French national team. During that period, he helped lay the foundation for a new football academy in the country, aiming to develop local talent. Now, he has returned once again, this time as the manager of the Senegalese national team, replacing Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed following Senegal's difficult exit from the 2022 World Cup. Senegal's World Cup campaign was a mix of hope and heartbreak. The team narrowly advanced from their group with a stunning 5-0 victory over Iraq, but suffered losses to France and Norway earlier in the tournament. In the Round of 32, they led Belgium 2-0 with just five minutes remaining, only to concede twice and eventually lose 3-2 in extra time after a penalty from Belgium's Youri Tielemans. Vieira will take charge of his first matches as manager during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mozambique and Ethiopia later this month. He is set to be officially unveiled on Friday, when he will announce his first squad. Before taking the reins in Senegal, Vieira has managed several clubs across Europe, including New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa. His time at Genoa concluded in November 2025 after 37 games, during which he secured 10 victories.