Zidane had maintained a verbal agreement with the French Football Federation (FFF) since late November. Despite interest from several major European clubs during his sabbatical, his focus remained on leading Les Bleus.
Succeeding a Legendary Tenure
Zidane takes over from his former 1998 World Cup and Juventus teammate Didier Deschamps, whose 14-year reign as national team manager concluded after France’s third-place play-off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Deschamps leaves an outstanding legacy, having guided France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2021 UEFA Nations League crown, and final appearances at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
A New Era Begins in September
Zidane’s contract officially begins on 1 September. His immediate priorities include the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign, UEFA Euro 2028, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
This represents Zidane’s first role in international management following a highly successful spell at Real Madrid, where he won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2016–2018) and two La Liga crowns.
An official unveiling ceremony by the FFF is expected in the coming days.
Welcome back to the French bench, Zinedine Zidane! Best wishes for a successful tenure with Les Bleus.