Senegal: Patrick Vieira, the best choice?

The Pape Thiaw chapter is now closed. Patrick Vieira will begin his era starting in September during the first two matchdays of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. Will the 1998 world champion live up to the occasion? Because the Senegalese national team needs to erase the disappointment of the 2026 World Cup.

Extensive experience as a player

Patrick Vieira is a very well-known name in world football. Having played as a midfielder, the former French international played for major clubs such as AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester City… He enjoyed a great career that lends him a certain legitimacy.

World champion in 1998, Patrick Vieira has an impressive record as a player. Among other things, the Premier League with Arsenal in 1998, 2002 and 2004, Serie A with AC Milan in 1996 and Inter Milan in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

His XXL career allowed him to acquire tremendous high-level experience. He could draw on that to speak to the Senegalese stars and build a real team to go after new trophies.

A very average coaching career

A playing career is one thing, but coaching is another. For now, Patrick Vieira is far from convincing in his new role. Having been an exceptional player, the Dakar native has so far been a very average coach. His various stints have not been impressive.

11 years after making his coaching debut at New York City, Patrick Vieira has yet to lift a trophy. No silverware has been won. Before arriving in Senegal, he had a brief experience at Genoa in Serie A. After a successful first season with a 13th place finish in the league, Vieira couldn’t enable the team to maintain that consistency or do better in the 2025-2026 season. A very complicated start to the season led management to dismiss him in November 2025.

Mouhamed Camara, a Senegalese journalist for Seneweb, is far from enthusiastic about Patrick Vieira’s profile. But he does see some qualities in him: “The best candidate? Maybe not. We realized, especially at the World Cup, that we needed a better tactician. Based on his recent experiences, Patrick Vieira has not shown us that he is one. Still, looking at those who were in the running for the job, none really stood out, especially in terms of tactical skills. But all the same, the Frenchman is an interesting profile. He’s a strong-willed coach, capable of making tough choices. He also has the advantage of a dual culture, having been born and spending part of his youth in Senegal.” he told Sport News Africa. 

Discovering African football

While Aliou Cissé and Pape Thiaw, the last two Senegal coaches, knew the local and African realities, this isn’t the case for Patrick Vieira. Although he was born in Dakar, Africa, he moved to France at an early age. He is much more familiar with the western football culture.

Appointed as Senegal manager, Vieira will be discovering Senegalese and African football. This could be a disadvantage for the 50-year-old coach. He will need some time to adapt. At the same time, he begins his tenure with matches that matter; these are the CAN 2027 qualifiers against Mozambique and Somalia.

Vieira is a novice to African football. Mouhamed Camara does not see this as a handicap for the ex-Gunner. He is waiting to see how he will bring out the best in the rich squad of the Lions of Senegal.

“I don’t think so. And Senegal has such a deep squad that it can hide certain weaknesses. Patrick Vieira will be highly anticipated on the international stage. Senegal must get past this stage and I think that weighed in the Federation’s decision to appoint a former player who has been at the highest level for many years. What remains to be seen is how he’ll manage with the Lions over time. At club level, he hasn’t been able to do that. He’ll also be expected to deliver in other areas. Will he be able to get the most out of Senegal’s talent pool? Will he have the courage and the sense to leave out some established players who have become less and less effective?,” he wondered.