Claude Simonet will step down as president of the French Soccer Federation (FFF) on Saturday after a decade in charge.

Simonet, elected to the job in February 1994, is expected to be replaced by retired teacher Jean-Pierre Escalettes, who previously chaired the amateur section of the FFF.

Asked for his best memory, Simonet, 76, told l’Equipe: “1998, of course. It was extraordinary to see France so full of joy and brotherhood.”

The 19998 success was in stark contrast to his early months in the post which coincided with France’s failure to reach the 1994 finals.

The failures of the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 campaigna persuaded Simonet not to run for office again.