The boss of the Blues

French Didier Deschamps waves the FIFA trophy 12 July at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, after winning the 1998 Soccer World Cup final match between Brazil and France. France won 3-0. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO PATRICK HERTZOG

Didier Deschamps was captain of France in the team's finest hour when they won the World Cup for the first time in their history in Paris in 1998 with an emphatic 3-0 win over Brazil.

French midfielder and captain Didier Deschamps (C) holds up the Euro-2000 soccer championships trophy after France won the final against Italy, 2-1, at Feijenoord stadium in Rotterdam, 02 July 2000.

There was more glory two years later when Deschamps again led France to a major title this time in the European Championship final against Italy (2-1).

Neither a goalscorer nor superstar, Deschamps was nevertheless vital to the collective organisation of the side.

Unglamorous, dedicated, Deschamps was unjustly criticised by former French star Eric Cantona as a "water carrier".

He was much more than that, enjoying the absolute confidence and respect of his teammates by his dedication to the cause.

Natural leader

Deschamps began his career as a centre forward at Aviron Bayonnais, switching to sweeper when he joined Nantes in 1983 before finally ending up in the midfield, where he was to remain for the rest of his career.

He made his Division One debut against Brest in 1985 at the age of 17. A natural leader, he became captain of the "canaries" in 1987, and spent two seasons there before moving to Marseille in 1989.

His time with the southern French club began slowly and he was loaned to rivals Bordeaux at the end of the season.

le capitaine et milieu de terrain de l'Olympique de Marseille, Didier Deschamps, soulève la coupe après la victoire de son club contre le Milan AC (1-0) à l'issue de la finale de la Coupe d'Europe des clubs champions de football, le 26 mai 1993 à Munich. C'est la première victoire d'un club français dans l'histoire de cette compétition. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK HERTZOG

He returned in 1991, however, and was subsequently chosen as team captain, taking Marseille to two League titles (1992, 1993) and a European Cup, (the first for a French club), in 1993 (photo).

Exceptional honours

Juventus Turin's French midfielder Didier Deschamps (R) fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Yugoslav forward Predrag Mijatovic during the Champions League final in Amsterdam 20 May 1998. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE).

After playing 263 first division matches, Deschamps was transferred to Juventus in Italy's Serie A, where he furnished his trophy cabinet with three league titles and another European Cup.

His game was also transformed : from being a simple retriever of the ball in midfield, he become a hugely influential linking midfielder who was often at the root of the Turin attack.

A move to English giants Chelsea followed and Deschamps was in the company of familiar faces, including close friend Marcel Desailly, with whom he spent his first seasons at Nantes.

Deschamps found a fresh challenge and added to a relatively successful Champions League campaign by winning the FA Cup (against Aston Villa, 1-0).

Coach at Monaco

(GàD bas) le milieu de terrain argentin Marcelo Gallardo, l'entraîneur Didier Deschamps, le milieu de terrain Ludovic Giuly, (GàD haut) les défenseurs Julien Rodriguez, l'Ivoirien Cyrille Domoraud, l'attaquant roumain Florin Raduciou et le milieu de terrain argentin Lucas Bernardi, posent, le 13 septembre 2001 au stade Louis 2 de Monaco, lors de la séance de photo de l'AS Monaco pour la saison 2001/2002 du Championnat de France de football D1. AFP PHOTO JACQUES MUNCH

He joined 1999 Champions League finalists Valencia in the close season, aiming to win a record third European title with three different clubs.

However, he fell just short of his quest when the Spanish club lost to Bayern Munich in the 2001 Champions League final in Milan.

France's midfielder Didier Deschamps runs with the ball during France's friendly match against Poland 23 February 2000 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

The Frenchman left the international stage in September, 2000, with a record 103 international appearances and ended his club career one year later at Valencia in Spain.

He was persuaded to try his luck at management, and he began at Monaco.