Zinedine Zidane has officially taken over as head coach of the French national team, beginning a new era for one of football’s strongest sides.
The French Football Federation has appointed the former World Cup winner on a contract running through the 2030 World Cup, making the job the long-awaited next chapter of his coaching career.
Zidane Replaces Didier Deschamps
Zidane replaces Didier Deschamps, who spent 14 years in charge and guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 World Cup final.
France also reached the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup before finishing fourth, bringing Deschamps’ long tenure to an end.
Zidane Returns to the France National Team
For Zidane, the appointment represents a return to the national team where he became a football icon.
As a player, he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France, made 108 international appearances and scored 31 goals.
He later built an outstanding coaching record at Real Madrid, winning three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018.
Zidane’s Long-Awaited France Appointment
The move has been expected for months, with Zidane repeatedly linked to the France job as Deschamps approached the end of his tenure.
The former Real Madrid coach had been without a club since leaving Madrid in 2021, but his decision to wait for the national-team opportunity has now paid off.
France Squad Offers Strong Foundation
Zidane inherits a squad packed with established stars and emerging talent.
Kylian Mbappé remains one of the team’s central figures, while players such as Michael Olise, Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaïre-Emery give France a strong foundation for the next international cycle.
Zidane Faces High Expectations
His first challenge will be to build on France’s strong tournament record while introducing his own footballing ideas.
Zidane has already made clear that leading his country is a major personal ambition, and expectations will be high given his success both as a player and manager.
The Zidane Era Begins
The Zidane France national team era therefore begins with enormous attention and equally large expectations.
France has the talent to compete for major trophies, while its new coach has already proven that he can succeed at the highest level.
The coming years will show whether Zidane can turn his legendary status into another successful chapter for Les Bleus.
