Who is Corinne Deacon, the controversial coach of the Bleues expelled from France?

This Thursday, the executive committee of the French Football Federation announced the departure of Corinne Deacon at the helm of the French women’s soccer team. An expected decision, which follows the numerous criticisms that the coach has been subjected to for several weeks, both on his sporting results and on the management of his team, and which falls a few months before the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (from 20 July to August 20).

International player, first female coach of a men’s team… Who is Corinne Deacon?

Originally from northern France, Corinne Deacon was born into a family whose parents, textile workers, had a strong taste for sports (her mother was a middle-distance athlete, and her father regularly took her to soccer with her). However, when she expressed a desire for her to join a soccer team at the age of 6, her two parents tried to dissuade her, believing it was not a sport for girls. Corinne Deacon still manages to convince them by joining a gymnastics club at the same time.

From the 1980s to 2000, she became an international footballer, and played for France, where she made her first selection at the age of 18, before retiring as a player in 2007, when she joined Bruno’s staff Bini, then coach of the blue. In 2010, Corinne Deacon became coach of ASJ Soyaux, which she left after three seasons to join Clermont Foot 63 in 2014. She then became the first woman to coach a men’s team on a long-term basis, which led to many multiple wins. .

In August 2017, she was appointed coach of the French women’s team.

What do we blame Corinne Deacon for?

Less than two years after her arrival in France, Corinne Deacon is the subject of numerous criticisms, in particular for her strategy and her sporting results considered disappointing. But the story really broke out on February 24, 2023, when three players from the French team slammed the door of the French selection. The first is none other than captain Wendie Renard, followed by forwards Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, to reveal the tensions existing between the Bleues and their coach. In a statement posted on Twitter, Wendie Renard explains that he can no longer ” ensure a system far from the requirements required by the high level“.

Later, in an interview with RMC Sportsback to what it says is a ” accumulation of things today. Continuing in such conditions is not possible. A day later it was the turn of a fourth player to return his crampons, Lyon defender Perle Morroni. This one claims to have right away » from the coach’s management, criticisms that add to a questioning of his tactical skills and his sporting results.

Criticism of his tactical strategy

Very soon, the reproaches against him become clearer: training and tactical work would not be advanced enough. ” It’s been a while since the sessions haven’t been tactical enough, it’s not working enough.”a close friend of the Blues confided to our colleagues in February FM TV. Several other sources reveal that “ video feedback on matches is not advanced enough, or even sometimes does not exist“.

Results deemed “disappointing”

Another flaw: highly anticipated, because considered one of the most complete sports teams in women’s football, the French women’s team has repeatedly failed to win major championships. This is the first case during the World Cup organized in 2019, in France. After an even run against Brazil in particular, the Bleues didn’t progress beyond the quarterfinals, losing to the United States. Then in 2022, during the Euro (which was supposed to take place in 2021), the French team qualified, but only reached the semi-final. Corinne Deacon would therefore not have the objectives concerning the sports results of her team.

A challenged management

Controversial choices, disagreements within the staff, degraded human relations with the team… The criticisms of the former coach seem to be numerous. Firstly, after the farewell of his first deputy, Philippe Joly, Deacon had failed to get along with his successor, Eric Blahic, who also left permanently in the summer of 2021. Conditions that make the staff of the France one of the best smallest in Europe (has only three people, a coach, an assistant goalkeeper coach and an assistant athletic training coach. Also, as revealed RMC Sports, Corinne Deacon had indicated, before Euro 2022, that she wanted to change management and relationship with the players. This had led to much more human relationships ” flattened“. In addition, several players attending Euro 2022 who were cheered for their play, most notably at a press conference by Corinne Deacon, did not get a minute of play during the Tournoi de France rally, according to reports RMC Sports. Disappointing strategic and managerial choices that have been a source of confusion and anger within the team.

Neglected access to care

In addition, other elements have also been advanced, following the farewell of Kadidiatou Diani, who, in a ” alarm call » sent by RMC Sportsasked the FFF to take “strong measures”they make the departure of the carriage: “ There is also the fact that in the beginning, access to treatment was almost forbidden. You really had to be hurt to be eligible for a massage or a regular treatment session like you might get in a club. We have been challenged by these things. »

What future for the French team?

On the eve of the decision of the executive committee to land Corinne Deacon, the coach of the Bleues had intervened to make his point of view known, through a statement sent to AFP extension. Deacon said he didn’t want to let go, believing he was paying the price for a destabilization operation. “In the light of the shameful media outburst of the last few days, I still wish to reiterate publicly (…) that I am fully determined to carry out my mission and, above all, to bring honor to France at the next World Cup”he assured. So that won’t be the case.

From now on, the future of the French women’s soccer team remains a big question mark. Will the “protest” players come back? Who to replace Corinne Deacon? Questions that remain unanswered for the moment.