The French Football Federation has appointed legendary former player Zinédine Zidane as the new manager of the France national team on a four-year contract, succeeding Didier Deschamps.
The Fédération Française de Football announced on Tuesday that Zinédine Zidane, 54, will serve as France's head coach following Didier Deschamps' departure. Zidane, widely regarded as one of France's greatest players, has signed a four-year agreement with the federation. The appointment comes after Deschamps concluded his 14-year tenure, having announced his intention to step down after the 2026 World Cup.
Zidane has established himself as a successful manager at club level before this appointment. After initially joining Real Madrid as a special advisor in 2012, he progressed through various coaching roles before becoming the club's senior manager in 2016. During his first stint with Los Merengues, Zidane achieved an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. He also secured La Liga victories in 2017 and 2020, though he departed the club after a trophyless 2020-2021 season.
The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner has maintained a public interest in managing the French national team. In a 2022 interview with L'Équipe, Zidane expressed his desire to coach Les Bleus and "come full circle" with the national team, emphasizing that representing France remained the most significant achievement of his career. Zidane has been without a managerial position since leaving Real Madrid, making him available for this high-profile appointment.
