Zinédine Zidane has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the French national team, signing a four-year contract with the French Football Federation (FFF), according to comments made by FFF official Phillipe Diallo during Zidane’s presentation.
The appointment sees Zidane return to the national team setup, taking the reins from Didier Deschamps. He will begin his duties on August 1st and will oversee France’s participation in the next edition of the UEFA Nations League, as well as the Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup, including all qualifying campaigns and friendly matches during that period.
Diallo revealed that initial contact between the FFF and Zidane began in February, indicating a deliberate and planned approach to securing his services. Zidane is expected to outline his sporting project and announce his backroom staff in early September, prior to the first team gathering.
France are scheduled to compete in the Nations League against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy between September and October, marking the start of Zidane’s tenure and a swift return to competitive international football. The team will be looking to rebound after a disappointing showing at the 2022 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Zidane’s managerial career has been largely defined by success with Real Madrid, where he won three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, as well as two La Liga titles. He left Real Madrid in 2018 and again in 2021, and has been largely out of management since, making his return to football with the national team a significant development.
The appointment is widely seen as a positive step for French football, with Zidane’s tactical acumen and experience expected to revitalize the national team. His arrival creates immediate expectations for success, and the pressure will be on to deliver results in major tournaments. This move is expected to inject a new dynamic into the French squad and potentially unlock the full potential of a talented group of players.
