Zidane's Return: French Legend Set to Take Reins as National Head Coach!
The French Football Federation is expected to name Zinedine Zidane as the new national team head coach on July 28, following Didier Deschamps' departure. Zidane, a legendary player and triple Champions League-winning coach with Real Madrid, is poised to usher in a new era for Les Bleus.
The French Football Federation (FFF) is set to announce the country’s new national team head coach at a news conference scheduled for July 28. While not explicitly named in the FFF's official statement, Zinedine Zidane is widely anticipated to take over the prestigious role, following the departure of Didier Deschamps. Reports indicate that the former France captain is the overwhelming favorite to become the next manager of Les Bleus, marking the end of Deschamps’ remarkable 12-year reign.
Didier Deschamps, who assumed leadership of the French national team in 2012, stepped down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where France secured a fourth-place finish. Zidane, at 54 years old, has been a perennial front-runner for the position for several years, consistently expressing his long-held ambition to manage his home country's team. He has reportedly been awaiting this opportunity since his departure from Real Madrid five years ago.
Should his appointment be confirmed, Zidane would follow in the footsteps of previous France team-mates Laurent Blanc and Deschamps, both of whom transitioned from playing for Les Bleus to coaching the national side. Zidane's own illustrious playing career includes being a World Cup winner in 1998 and a European champion in 2000. On the managerial front, his experience has been exclusively with Real Madrid at the club level, where he achieved one of football's most significant managerial feats.
During his initial tenure as Real Madrid boss, Zidane famously guided the club to an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. This accomplishment made him the first manager in the modern era of the competition to achieve such a feat, cementing his legendary status not only as a player but also as a coach. With his profound legacy, Zidane’s expected appointment heralds the dawn of a new era for French football as the team prepares for forthcoming international competitions and challenges.