France's national football team has been officially handed a new coach; former midfielder Zinedine Zidane. The appointment of Zidane was announced at the FFF headquarters in Paris by Philippe Diallo, after Didier Deschamps quit following the team's fourth place finish at the World Cup. Deschamps was sacked after 14 years in charge after 185 games and 120 wins in charge and led the country to a record 2018 World Cup, 2020-21 UEFA Nations League and runner-up positions at Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup.
Zidane has signed a 4-year contract to take over the leadership post, fulfilling a dream that has been anticipated for years from the world of football. Zidane who has been out of management since leaving his second stint with Real Madrid in May 2021, said he turned down several club offers during the five-year hiatus and focused on the national team. Diallo said talks at the beginning of February 2025 between the federation and Zidane started after Deschamps said he would resign after the summer World Cup. It is a seamless transition for the French football and two of his former teammates who won the World Cup together in 1998 on home soil.
As a player Zidane went down as one of the greatest players in history of the sport and won the Ballon d'Or and three FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He became immortal in French football when he scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil and then his team won the Euro 2000 with the World Cup in 2006 and he finished his playing career as the most successful player of the world. Going into management from playing Zidane won an historic three-time UEFA Champions League (2016-2018) and LaLiga (2016-2018) and became a tactical master of high-pressure situations.
The new head coach has a talented generation of French players and talent at his disposal that will have been left to bounce back after a tough end to their World Cup campaign where they lost to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third place playoff 6-4. Zidane expressed great pride and emotion as he was presented to his fans and said that his managerial style would be based on attacking football and creative freedom as he was in his prime as a legend as a ten who loved to score goals and lead from the front.
Zidane will get his first test in the fall as France competes in a run of UEFA Nations League games ahead. His first managerial appearance will be on September 25 against Türkiye and a home game against Italy on October 2. Belgium is also in their group too. Away from Nations League, Zidane will lead Les Bleus through the preparation for Euro 2028 and make sure France remains at its highest level of international football with one of the game’s most cherished figures as the manager.
