Zidane appointed coach of France national team until 2030 World Cup
The French Football Federation announced the appointment of legend Zinedine Zidane as the new coach of Les Bleus, succeeding Didier Deschamps, for a four-year term leading up to the 2030 World Cup, during a press conference on Tuesday. Zidane stated that he had received numerous offers but rejected them all to take charge of the French national team, emphasizing that he felt honored by the opportunity and would work to continue achieving success. He also expressed gratitude to outgoing coach Deschamps for his contributions to the team.
At the press conference, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo said, “This is an exceptional moment.” He added that Deschamps had led the French national team to the pinnacle of world football, rebuilt the squad, and restored the players’ confidence, and that it was important to show appreciation as his era came to an end. The federation president further explained: “When Deschamps announced his departure, I needed to find a coach who could continue this mission. Since February 2025, I have been in contact with Zidane and proposed the role to him. After discussions, we found our ambitions aligned.”
Zidane, who earned 108 caps for France and scored 31 goals, will begin his new role in September during the UEFA Nations League. France’s first match under Zidane will be the third-place playoff of the 2026 World Cup against England, which they narrowly lost 6-4, scheduled for September 25 in Turkey.
Zidane has managed only one club, his former and favorite team, Real Madrid. However, this single managerial experience was highly successful during his two stints with the club (2016–2018 and 2019–2021), particularly with three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2016, 2017, and 2018). Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, “Zizou” remained without a managerial position before becoming the third 1998 World Cup-winning player to take charge of Les Bleus, following former teammates Laurent Blanc (2010–2012) and Didier Deschamps (2012–2026).
