French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo announced at a press conference today that football legend Zinedine Zidane will succeed Didier Deschamps and become the new head coach of the French national team. France 24 reports.
The 54-year-old Zidane had long been considered the leading candidate for the position and had waited for several years for the opportunity to take charge of the national team. Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, he has not worked as a coach.
During his time at the Spanish club, Zidane first as a star midfielder and later as a manager led the team to three consecutive Champions League titles — in 2016, 2017, and 2018. This achievement remains unprecedented in the modern history of the tournament.
Didier Deschamps had managed the French national team since 2012 and left his position after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At the tournament, France lost to Spain in the semifinal.
Under Deschamps, France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while in 2022 the team lost to Argentina in the final on penalties. The French team also lost the final of the 2016 European Championship, which was hosted by France.
Zidane was the main architect of France's success at the 1998 World Cup, when the team won the tournament. In the final match against Brazil, he scored two goals. Two years later, he played a key role in France's victory at the European Championship.
In 1998, Zidane won the Ballon d'Or.
The first matches of the French national team under Zidane will take place in the UEFA Nations League: on September 25, the team will play away against Turkey, and three days later it will face Belgium. After that, on October 2, France will host Italy at the Stade de France.