Zidane Takes Over as the New Coach of France

Zinedine Zidane has officially been named the coach of the French national team. The French Football Federation announced his appointment on Tuesday after Didier Deschamps stepped down.

Zidane, who is 54 years old, has been seen as the top choice for the job for some time. He has been waiting for this chance to lead the national team for years.

He takes over from Deschamps, who managed the team from 2012 until earlier this month. Deschamps led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and to the finals in 2022, where they finished in fourth place.

“For me, it’s an immense joy... being able to become the coach of this French team. I don’t have any other words,” Zidane said. He has signed a four-year contract that will last until the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

“I’m holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I’m ready for the challenge, that’s what drives me today,” he added. Zidane is a former star of Real Madrid and has been preparing for this role since he left the club in 2021.

At his introduction in Paris, Zidane expressed his excitement. “The France job was the only one I wanted,” he said. He signed autographs and took pictures with fans outside the FFF headquarters after his appointment.

“I’ve had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club, and I turned them all down for the French national team,” he said. Zidane was a key player in the 1998 World Cup win against Brazil and also helped France win the 2000 European Championship.

He has only coached one club, Real Madrid, where he achieved great success. Zidane led the team to three straight Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018, which is a rare accomplishment in the tournament’s modern history.

“I think it’s a completely different job, that’s for sure,” Zidane noted. “I’ve experienced the club side of it. Now this is something new for me, but it doesn’t scare me.”

Zidane will follow in the footsteps of his former teammates Laurent Blanc, who coached the national team from 2010 to 2012, and Deschamps. “I’m going to give everything so that this team keeps on winning. That’s it, the only thing that drives me is being able to work for this France team and making sure it keeps on winning.”

“‘DD’ (Deschamps) is ‘DD’, Blanc was Blanc and ‘Zizou’ is Zizou’. I will do things the way I know how to do them.”

FFF president Philippe Diallo said he first met Zidane in February 2025, soon after Deschamps announced he would step down after the 2026 World Cup.

“There was one thing that struck me, that perhaps ultimately made the difference,” Diallo said. “During the conversations we had, he said to me, ‘President, I know how to win.’

“When he said that, I saw someone who had both the desire and the self-belief needed to lead France. That is what it takes for our national team to remain successful in the years ahead.”

Zidane’s first match as coach will be against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on September 25. His first home game will be against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.