Official: Zinedine Zidane Appointed Head Coach of the French National Team
The legendary football star, who led the Tricolores to 1998 World Cup glory as a player, will succeed Didier Deschamps. "This is a dream come true, my happiest day as a coach," Zidane stated following the announcement.
It had been in the air for a long time, but now it is official: Zinedine Zidane is the new head coach of the French national team. The appointment of the legendary former footballer and former Real Madrid manager was announced at an official press conference where he spoke alongside the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo.
"This is a huge joy. I am keeping my composure, but I have many emotions. I am ready for the challenge, that is what drives me. This is a dream come true. I received offers to coach several teams during the four or five years I took a break, but I rejected them all in favor of the French national team. It was the only thing I wanted to do after my time at Real Madrid. This is my happiest day as a coach," said Zidane, who signed a four-year contract.
Zidane added: "I know this system from my childhood. I started in the youth departments and went through all the stages to the senior national team, which is the pinnacle of aspirations. The only thing that drives me is the opportunity to work for this team and see it continue to win." He also complimented his predecessor, Didier Deschamps, with whom he collaborated as a player for France and at Juventus: "Congratulations on everything you have done. This is an opportunity for me to thank you. A new chapter is about to open with a new coaching staff. I intend to invest all my energy into this team. I am looking forward to being a part of it."
Diallo admitted that he approached Zidane as early as 2025: "I met with Zidane to offer him the position. Since then, we have met several times to plan his arrival. It was a meeting of two desires: the desire of Zinedine — as one of the legends of French football — to coach the national team, and the desire of the federation to appoint a person who possesses professional ability and a place of honor in the hearts of the fans, to lead one of the best teams in the world."
As a player, Zidane led France to its first World Cup victory in 1998, scoring a brace in the 3-0 final win against Brazil. In 2006, he again led the Tricolores to the final, where he was sent off following an incident with Marco Materazzi, and France lost to Italy on penalties. As a coach, Zidane worked exclusively at Real Madrid, where he won two league titles, three Champions League trophies, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, and two Spanish Super Cups.
