Zinedine Zidane has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the France national team on a four-year contract, succeeding Didier Deschamps, according to announcements made by the CNN. The appointment was announced on Tuesday by FFF President Philippe Diallo during a press conference at the FFF headquarters in Paris, as reported by the NanaimoNewsNOW.
Zinedine Zidane Appointed France Head Coach
The 54-year-old Zidane takes over following France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup in the United States and North America, where Les Bleus were eliminated in the semifinals by Spain before losing 6-4 to England in the third-place match, according to reports from Aljazeera and CNN. Diallo stated that he met with Zidane for talks in February 2025 after Deschamps decided he would stand down following the 2026 tournament, according to the Toronto Star.
End of Deschamps’ Era and Zidane’s Long-Awaited Return
Didier Deschamps stepped down after a 14-year tenure at the helm, overseeing 185 matches and 120 victories, according to Aljazeera. Deschamps guided France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2020-21 Nations League trophy, and the finals of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. Both Deschamps and Zidane share a long association, having been teammates in the 1998 World Cup-winning squad hosted in France, as noted by Aljazeera.
Zidane has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in May 2021, as reported by Europe 1. During his presentation, Zidane expressed his dedication to the national setup, noting that he turned down club offers during his five years away because managing France was his ultimate ambition. The French team was the only thing I wanted to do,
Zidane told reporters, according to Aljazeera.
Legendary Playing Career and Club Management Success
As a player, Zidane earned 108 caps, scored 31 goals, and played a pivotal role in leading France to its inaugural World Cup victory in 1998—scoring two goals in the final against Brazil—followed by a triumph at Euro 2000, according to Aljazeera and CNN. His playing career with Les Bleus concluded in more controversial circumstances during the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, where he was sent off in extra time against Italy, as detailed by CNN and Europe 1.
In club management, Zidane enjoyed historic success with Real Madrid, guiding the club to three consecutive Champions League titles (2016, 2017, and 2018), two Spanish league titles, two UEFA Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups, according to CNN and Europe 1.
Upcoming Fixtures and Nations League Schedule
Zidane is scheduled to lead France through the 2030 World Cup qualifiers, with his tenure opening during the UEFA Nations League fixtures in the autumn, according to the BBC and Europe 1.
* 25 September 2026: Away fixture against Turkey in the Nations League (Europe 1) * 28 September 2026: Away fixture against Belgium (Europe 1) * 2 October 2026: Home match against Italy at the Stade de France (Europe 1) * 5 October 2026: Home match against Belgium at the Stade de France (Europe 1)
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