Patrick Vieira expressed his deep honor at accepting the role of Senegal's head coach, describing the decision as driven by heartfelt conviction.
Though born in Senegal, the 50-year-old former player for France achieved fame by winning the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship with Les Bleus.
He shared his immense pride as he took on his first senior international coaching position, after previous roles at New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa, during his introduction to the Teranga Lions on Friday.
"Being head coach of the Senegal national team is an absolute dream," he told a news conference in Dakar.
"I was born here, my parents were born here, and it really is a homecoming.
"From the very first meetings I had with the [Senegal football federation] president, I accepted this challenge straight away, because there was also an exceptional generation of players.
"I realise the expectations of the people - all 20 million Senegalese. And I know that with the experience I have, with the determination I have, I'll be able to see this project through."
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