Zinedine Zidane Named New France Head Coach

Zinedine Zidane is confirmed as the new head coach of the France men’s national team, succeeding Didier Deschamps as they prepare for future competitions.

Zinedine Zidane has officially been appointed as the head coach of the France men’s national team, taking over from Didier Deschamps. The announcement comes after Zidane had been out of coaching since his second departure from Real Madrid in May 2021.

Over the past few months, it was anticipated that Zidane would be the successor to Deschamps, who had declared in January 2025 his intention to step down following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup cycle. Zidane’s contract spans four years, and he is set to commence his duties on August 1, with plans to unveil his coaching staff by September.

During a press conference held on July 28, Zidane expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “For me, today represents continuity, a dream. I’ve had offers over the last four or five years to take charge of a club, and I’ve turned them all down for the sake of the French national team. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve been part of it since I was a lad; I started in the under-15s and worked my way up through every level to reach the senior squad. I’m going to give it my all to ensure this team keeps winning – that’s the only thing that drives me.”

Zidane was also questioned about his strategy moving forward and the national team captain, Kylian Mbappe. He remarked, “We haven’t spoken to Kylian yet. The most important thing for him is to get some rest. We’ll have the chance to talk to him and all the players in September.”

He added, “We’re going to do things differently. Didier is Didier. Laurent Blanc is Laurent Blanc. Zizou is Zizou. I’m going to try to do what I know how to do. There’s no rupture with the past. I believe it’s a continuation. That continuity simply means putting everything in place so that the French team can keep winning. That’s my only aim.”

Deschamps’ tenure saw France secure a World Cup victory in 2018 and reach the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where they lost to Argentina on penalties. As for Zidane, he has an illustrious past, being celebrated as one of France’s all-time greats and having left Madrid after leading the team to three successive Champions League titles between 2015 and 2018.

Deschamps’ last tournament in charge saw the French team perform strongly in the World Cup, winning all their group-stage matches, yet they were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals. Zidane’s appointment marks a new chapter for the French national team, as they aim to continue their legacy under his leadership.