Zidane lands dream job
France great Zinedine Zidane’s long-held ambition to coach the national team became reality on Tuesday when the French Football Federation appointed the former captain and World Cup winner as Didier Deschamps’ successor on a four-year contract.
The appointment of former Real Madrid manager Zidane comes two weeks after Deschamps’ tenure as coach ended following France’s fourth-place finish at the World Cup.
His final match in charge was a 6-4 defeat by England. “The French team was the only thing I wanted to do,” Zidane told reporters.
“I’ve always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager. I didn’t take a club job for that reason. The only thing I wanted to do after Madrid was manage the French national team.
“I could have taken on a three-year role because Deschamps was there. He made that decision in January 2025, and the very next day I knew I wanted to be the next one. We met with the president and the deal was sealed.”
The 54-year-old Zidane is expected to begin his reign with an away Nations League game against Turkey before France host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.
Deschamps, who left the role after 14 years at the helm, oversaw 185 matches and 120 victories, guiding France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2020-21 Nations League trophy, and the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.
The two share a long association, having been teammates in France’s 1998 World Cup-winning side on home soil.
Zidane played a pivotal role in that triumph and won the Ballon d’Or that year.
He made 108 appearances for the national side, scoring 31 goals and contributing 29 assists.
“You’ll see my style soon,” Zidane said. “I’m driven by the game. I was a number 10, and what drives me is scoring goals.
“I lived in Spain for 25 years, you know what that means. On the pitch, ?I was a leader. Now I’m becoming a leader through my experience.
“Winning in ’98 is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, winning with my teammates. I spent those four or five years waiting for that day. I’m emotional; you can’t see it, but I’m so excited. I’m happy.”
