In a widely anticipated appointment that has dominated French football headlines for months, the French Football Federation (FFF) officially announced Tuesday that legendary former French midfielder Zinedine Zidane will take the reins as the new head coach of the men’s national team, signing a four-year contract that extends through the 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
The 54-year-old coaching icon, who has been tipped as the favorite for the role ever since former manager Didier Deschamps stepped down earlier this month following France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, has spent years patiently waiting for an opening to lead Les Bleus. Deschamps, who held the national team post since 2012, leaves behind a formidable legacy: he guided France to a World Cup title in 2018 and a runners-up finish at the 2022 tournament.
Speaking at his official unveiling in Paris Tuesday, Zidane opened up about the overwhelming emotion of landing the only role he ever wanted in management after stepping away from Real Madrid in 2021. “For me, it’s an immense joy… being able to become the coach of this French team. I don’t have any other words,” he said. “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.”
A decorated winner for France as a player, Zidane scored two iconic goals in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil to secure France’s first-ever world title, and later lifted the UEFA European Championship trophy with the national side in 2000. He was also a teammate of Deschamps during that 1998 World Cup triumph, and becomes the third former 1998 champion to manage the national team, following Deschamps and Laurent Blanc, who held the role from 2010 to 2012.
Notably, Zidane turned down every club coaching offer he received over the past four to five years to hold out for the France job. “The France job was the only one I wanted,” he confirmed, after meeting with fans outside FFF headquarters, signing autographs and posing for photos with waiting supporters. “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.”
Zidane’s entire club coaching career to date has been spent at Real Madrid, where he cemented his place in Champions League history by leading the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 — a historic achievement that has never been matched in the modern era of the competition. While he acknowledges that leading a national team is a far different challenge than club management, he said the new test does not faze him. “I think it’s a completely different job, that’s for sure. I’ve experienced the club side of it. Now this is something new for me, but it doesn’t scare me,” he explained.
Staying true to his own approach while building on the success of his predecessors is Zidane’s plan moving forward. “’DD’ (Deschamps) is ‘DD’, Blanc was Blanc and ‘Zizou’ is Zizou,” he said, referencing his well-known nickname. “I will do things the way I know how to do them.” His core priority remains clear: continuing France’s legacy as one of the world’s top international football sides. “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.”
FFF President Philippe Diallo revealed that talks with Zidane first began back in February 2025, shortly after Deschamps initially announced he would step down following the 2026 World Cup. Diallo said one line from their first conversation ultimately sealed the deal for Zidane’s appointment. “There was one thing that struck me, that perhaps ultimately made the difference. 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 will make his debut on the France sidelines later this year, with his first match in charge an away UEFA Nations League fixture against Turkey on September 25. His first home game at the iconic Stade de France will follow a week later on October 2, when France hosts Italy.