Officially... Zinedine Zidane appointed as new coach of the French national team

The French Football Federation appointed Zinedine Zidane today as the new head coach of the French national team for the next four years, succeeding Didier Deschamps. Speaking at the federation’s headquarters following the official announcement of his appointment, Zidane said, “Coaching the French national team is the only thing I ever wanted to do.” The 54-year-old former playmaker for “Les Bleus” added, “It’s a kind of continuity, and in a way, a dream.” Zidane, who has been without a managerial role since 2021 after his stint with Spanish club Real Madrid, continued, “I received offers over the past four or five years to manage clubs, but I turned them all down in favor of the French national team.”

The former playmaker will succeed his former teammate Deschamps, who has led the national team since 2012. Deschamps’ tenure ended with a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, following the team’s victory in 2018 and a final appearance in 2022.

For his part, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo said, “Zinedine Zidane will be the head coach of the French national team for the next four years. Since February 2025, I have met with Zinedine Zidane and communicated with him to offer him the role of leading the French national team.”

The former number 10, who earned 108 caps for the French national team, has managed only Real Madrid, the club where he ended his playing career and later served as manager in two separate spells (2016–2018 and 2019–2021). “Zizou” won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000, and he led Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2016, 2017, and 2018), the most prestigious club competition in Europe, an unprecedented achievement for a manager.

His appointment to this role had been widely anticipated for some time, as his name had been mentioned repeatedly in recent years, particularly in 2018 and 2022, before Deschamps’ contract was renewed.

Zidane’s first training camp with the French national team will take place in September, ahead of the UEFA Nations League campaign, with the first match scheduled in Turkey on September 25.