- France Appoint Zinedine Zidane as New Head Coach on Four-Year Deal
French football has entered a new era after the French Football Federation officially confirmed the appointment of legendary midfielder and former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of the national team.
The long-anticipated announcement comes after Didier Deschamps stepped down following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending one of the most successful managerial reigns in the history of French football.
Deschamps had revealed in January 2025 that he would leave the role after the World Cup regardless of the team’s performance. His tenure came to an end after France finished fourth at the tournament, losing 6-4 to England in the third-place playoff.
Zidane has now signed a four-year contract that will keep him in charge of Les Bleus until the summer of 2030. The agreement will see the 54-year-old lead France through the UEFA Euro 2028 campaign and the qualification and finals of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The appointment marks Zidane’s return to coaching for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. During two spells in charge of the Spanish giants, he established himself as one of the most successful managers of his generation.
His greatest achievement came between 2016 and 2018 when he guided Real Madrid to an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. Under his leadership, the club also won two La Liga championships, two FIFA Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups, cementing his reputation as an elite coach.
Across his time with Real Madrid, Zidane recorded 174 victories, 53 draws and just 36 defeats in 263 competitive matches.
Before making his name on the touchline, Zidane enjoyed one of football’s most celebrated playing careers. Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he earned 108 caps for France, scoring 31 goals while providing 29 assists.
He inspired France to victory at the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil and helped the nation lift the UEFA European Championship two years later. His elegant style, vision and leadership made him an icon of French football and one of the sport’s most respected figures.
Zidane’s first match as France coach is scheduled for September 25, when Les Bleus travel to face Turkey in their opening UEFA Nations League Group A fixture. Three days later, France will take on Belgium in Brussels before the new coach oversees his first home game against Italy on October 2 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
France will also learn their opponents for the UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying campaign during the draw in December before beginning their road to the continental championship next year.
The appointment of Zidane has generated enormous excitement among French supporters, who hope the World Cup-winning legend can build on the strong foundations left by Deschamps and return the national team to the summit of international football.
