Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is preparing for another Premier League season in the dugout after leading the Gunners to the title last term.
The Spaniard has been in charge since December 2019 and is now the longest-serving current manager in the Premier League.
Arteta is not the only former Arsenal player to have moved into management after his playing career.
Patrick Vieira has also built a coaching career across several countries, taking charge of New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa.
Vieira remains one of the most recognisable figures from Arsenal’s successful era under Arsene Wenger.
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He joined the club in 1996, made 279 appearances and scored 29 goals before leaving in 2005, while also serving as club captain from 2002 until his departure.
His transition into management has now taken him into international football for the first time.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Vieira has signed an agreement to become the new head coach of the Senegal national team, with the former Arsenal midfielder set to lead the project with immediate effect.
The appointment represents a return to the country where Vieira was born.
The former France international was born in Dakar, Senegal, although he represented France at senior level and won both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 during his international career.
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Vieira’s appointment follows Senegal’s decision to part company with Pape Thiaw after their 2026 World Cup campaign. Thiaw’s departure opened the door for the federation to consider a new direction, with Vieira emerging as a leading candidate during the search.
The move also marks Vieira’s return to management after his spell with Genoa. He took charge of the Italian club in November 2024 and remained in the role until November 2025, overseeing 37 matches across competitions.
Before Genoa, Vieira spent one season at Strasbourg after previously managing Crystal Palace and Nice. His first senior coaching role came with New York City FC, where he worked from 2016 to 2018 before returning to Europe.
Vieira’s next challenge will be considerably different from his previous club appointments. Rather than working with a squad on a daily basis, he will now take responsibility for Senegal’s national team and begin preparing the side for its next phase under his leadership.