Zinedine Zidane announced as France coach begins new era after Deschamps exit
Zinedine Zidane has officially taken charge of the French national team, ending years of speculation about when one of the country’s best footballers would step into the role. The French Football Federation confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, with the 54-year-old succeeding Didier Deschamps after France’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.
The announcement came two weeks after Deschamps ended 14 years as France coach following Les Bleus’ fourth-place finish at the World Cup. France were knocked out by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before losing 6-4 to England in the third-place play-off, bringing the curtain down on one of the most successful managerial tenures in the country’s history.
For Zidane, the appointment marks a long-awaited return to management after leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The former France captain has been repeatedly linked with the national team job and was widely seen as the natural successor to Deschamps, with whom he shared the 1998 World Cup-winning dressing room.
Now the man who inspired France to their first World Cup title as a player will attempt to lead a new generation back to the top of international football after signing a long-term deal with the national side.
ZIDAN’S MANAGERIAL LEGACY
Zidane may be taking charge of the national team for the first time, but he comes with one of the most decorated managerial records in modern football. The Frenchman transformed the club into a dominant force in Europe during his two spells at Real Madrid between 2016 and 2021, becoming the first manager to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles in the competition’s modern era.
Major honors as Real Madrid manager:
- 3 UEFA Champions League (2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18)
- 2 La Liga (2016–17, 2019–20)
- 2 FIFA Club World Cup (2016, 2017)
- 2 UEFA Super Cup (2016, 2017)
- 2 Spanish Super Cup (2017, 2020)
He has been moving away from coaching since leaving Real Madrid in May 2021, despite being linked with several of Europe’s biggest positions. Now Zidane returns to the dugout with the task of returning France to the top of international football after an underwhelming World Cup campaign.
ZIDAN’S FIRST TEST AS FRANCE BOSS
Zidane will begin his tenure in France’s UEFA Nations League campaign later this year. Les Bleus have been drawn alongside Turkey, Belgium and Italy, with their opening match scheduled against Turkey on September 25.
Aside from the Nations League, Zidane’s primary task will be preparing France for their Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. With a squad that includes established stars and emerging talent, expectations will be high that one of French football’s greatest icons can achieve success in the dugout as much as on the pitch.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
28 Jul 2026 15:08 IST