France has officially appointed Zinedine Zidane as national team head coach on a four-year contract, succeeding Didier Deschamps following the 2026 World Cup. Discover details on his long-awaited homecoming and upcoming fixtures.
The long-awaited homecoming is finally official. French football icon Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as the new head coach of the France national team, signing a four-year contract with the French Football Federation (FFF).
Unveiled by FFF president Philippe Diallo at a packed press conference in Paris, Zidane steps into the role following the departure of Didier Deschamps. Deschamps stepped down after 14 years at the helm, concluding his legendary tenure following Les Bleus’ fourth-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A Dream Realized
For Zidane, who has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, the appointment marks the realization of a long-held ambition. Despite receiving multiple high-profile offers from European clubs over the past five years, the 54-year-old revealed that he turned them all down, keeping his focus entirely fixed on the national team dugout.
“I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club, but I turned them all down for the France team,” Zidane said. “It was the only thing I wanted to do.”
The Road Ahead
Zidane inherits a world-class squad brimming with established stars and emerging talent, including Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and William Saliba. His first test on the touchline will arrive quickly, with France scheduled to face Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League on September 25, 2026.
With his sights set firmly on the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, qualification for EURO 2028, and the subsequent cycle toward the 2030 World Cup, French football enters a bold new era under one of its most revered legends.
