Zinedine Zidane has officially taken charge of the France national team, ending years of speculation over when one of the country’s greatest footballers would step into the role. The French Football Federation confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, with the 54-year-old succeeding Didier Deschamps after France’s disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The announcement came two weeks after Deschamps’ 14-year spell as France coach ended following Les Bleus’ fourth-place finish at the World Cup. France were knocked out by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before losing 6-4 to England in the third-place playoff, bringing the curtain down on one of the most successful managerial tenures in the country’s history.
For Zidane, the appointment marks a long-awaited return to management after leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The former France captain had repeatedly been linked with the national team job and was widely regarded as the natural successor to Deschamps, with whom he shared the 1998 World Cup-winning dressing room.
Now, the man who inspired France to their maiden World Cup title as a player will attempt to guide a new generation back to the summit of international football, having signed a long-term contract with the national side.
ZIDANE’S MANAGERIAL LEGACY
Zidane may be taking charge of a national team for the first time, but he arrives with one of the most decorated managerial records in modern football. Across two spells at Real Madrid between 2016 and 2021, the Frenchman transformed the club into Europe’s dominant force, becoming the first manager to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles in the competition’s modern era.
Major honours as Real Madrid manager:
- 3 UEFA Champions League (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)
- 2 La Liga (2016-17, 2019-20)
- 2 FIFA Club World Cup (2016, 2017)
- 2 UEFA Super Cup (2016, 2017)
- 2 Spanish Super Cup (2017, 2020)
He has been away from coaching since stepping down from Real Madrid in May 2021, despite being linked with several of Europe’s biggest jobs. Now, Zidane returns to the dugout with the task of restoring France to the top of international football after an underwhelming World Cup campaign.
ZIDANE’S FIRST TEST AS FRANCE BOSS
Zidane will begin his tenure with France’s UEFA Nations League campaign later this year. Les Bleus have been drawn alongside Trkiye, Belgium and Italy, with their opening fixture scheduled against Trkiye on September 25.
Beyond the Nations League, Zidane’s primary task will be preparing France for the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. With a squad featuring established stars and emerging talent, expectations will be high that one of French football’s greatest icons can deliver success from the dugout just as he did on the pitch.
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