OFFICIAL: France national team appoints Zinedine Zidane as head coach

The French Football Federation has officially named Zinedine Zidane as the new manager of the national team, succeeding Didier Deschamps following France's semifinal exit at the 2026 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps had announced back in January 2025 that he would step down as head coach after the summer World Cup concluded. France was then defeated 2-0 by European champions Spain in the semifinals, thus ending their journey in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Zidane has not coached any team since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. During his time at the Santiago Bernabéu, the French tactician won three Champions League titles and two La Liga championships.

Zidane's takeover of the French national team had long been rumored. The former "Les Bleus" captain was always seen as the top candidate to replace Deschamps, who had led the national team for 14 years. The French Football Federation (FFF) signed a long-term contract with Zidane.

Deschamps ends his tenure with a massive legacy, having led France to three major tournament finals and winning the 2018 World Cup. He also became the third person in history to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

His successor is also one of the greatest legends of French football. Zidane earned 108 caps for the national team, won the 1998 World Cup with a brace in the final, and also triumphed at EURO 2000. The 2006 World Cup was the last tournament of his playing career, ending with a red card after the infamous headbutt in the final.

Zidane's coaching career began in 2014 when he led Real Madrid Castilla for two seasons before being promoted to the first team. There, he achieved the feat of becoming the first coach to win the Champions League three consecutive times. After resigning in 2018, Zidane returned to Real Madrid a year later and went on to add another La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup.

With the long-term contract just signed, Zidane will have the task of building a French team capable of competing for major titles in the future. With a quality attacking squad, "Les Bleus" are expected to remain top contenders for the EURO 2028 title as well as the 2030 World Cup.