Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid manager, has been confirmed as the new head coach of the France national team. The appointment comes after Didier Deschamps concluded his 14-year tenure as manager, which ended following France’s semi-final elimination to Spain at the 2026 World Cup. Zidane, who was a World Cup winner with France in 1998, will be under contract to lead the national team through the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
Zidane expressed his enthusiasm for the role, describing it as a great source of pride to manage the French national side. He acknowledged the previous administration’s contributions while outlining his ambitious goals for the team. French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo characterized Zidane as a legend of French football and noted that his appointment represents a significant moment for the federation. Zidane’s first competitive match will be a Nations League fixture against Turkey on 25 September.
The 54-year-old has an extensive managerial resume primarily from his time at Real Madrid. He initially joined Madrid’s B team in 2014 before becoming first-team manager in January 2016. During his tenure, he guided the club to three consecutive Champions League titles, along with multiple La Liga championships. He departed after the 2020-21 season and has been out of management since that time.
As a player, Zidane was instrumental in France’s 1998 World Cup victory, scoring twice in the final against Brazil. He also participated in Euro 2000 success and made a notable return to international football during the 2006 World Cup campaign. His playing career included significant stints at Juventus and Real Madrid, where he became the world’s most expensive player at the time of his transfer in 2001. Zidane has long been associated with the France managerial position and will now lead the team into qualifying for Euro 2028.
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