Former France star Zinedine Zidane will take over as coach of the national team on a four-year deal, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.
Zidane, 54, has been widely expected to take the reins after the departure of Didier Deschamps, whose tenure began in 2012 and ended earlier this month after France finished fourth at the World Cup.
The former Real Madrid coach will replace Deschamps, who guided France to 2018 World Cup glory and the final four years later.
For Zidane, the appointment is a dream come true. "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 at his unveiling in Paris.
The French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo revealed that he first met with Zidane in February 2025, shortly after Deschamps revealed he would step down from his role after the 2026 World Cup.
Diallo said that Zidane's desire and self-belief made him the ideal candidate for the role. "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's experience as a coach is limited to his time at Real Madrid, where he led the team to three consecutive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
The French captain Kylian Mbappe welcomed the arrival of Zidane, posting a message that read "Welcome home" on Instagram.
Zidane's first game at the helm of France will come away to Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on September 25, followed by a home match against Italy on October 2.
The former France playmaker, who scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil and also won the 2000 European Championship as a player, has been readying himself for the role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Zidane has been waiting for an opportunity to take charge of the national team for several years, turning down offers to coach other clubs. "The France job was the only one I wanted," he said.
Source: Yahoo Sports
