Zinédine Zidane is expected to officially begin his tenure as the manager of the French national team on September 1st, according to L’Équipe. This date marks the start of contracts for Zidane and his entire technical staff. The appointment follows the impending departure of Didier Deschamps, who will oversee his final match as France manager this Saturday against England in the Coupe du Monde third-place play-off.
While the French Football Federation has yet to formally announce the appointment, the timing aligns with the contractual arrangements for Zidane and his team. This suggests a smooth transition is planned following the conclusion of the current international tournament. Zidane’s arrival has been widely anticipated, with Deschamps’ decade-long reign coming to an end after a period of significant success, including a World Cup victory in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022.
Zidane returns to a national team role having previously served as an assistant coach under Roger Lemerre from 1998 to 2006, contributing to France’s Euro 2000 triumph and their run to the 2006 World Cup final. More recently, Zidane has established himself as one of the most successful club managers in Europe, leading Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018, alongside La Liga titles. He left Real Madrid in two separate spells, most recently in 2023.
The appointment of Zidane is expected to usher in a new era for French football, with a focus on integrating emerging talent and potentially reshaping the team’s tactical approach. He inherits a squad still brimming with quality, including Kylian Mbappé, but faces the challenge of building a team capable of competing for major honors in the years to come. The French Football Federation will be hoping Zidane can replicate his club success on the international stage and lead France to further glory.
