Zinedine Zidane Fulfills Dream by Becoming France National Team Coach/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Zinedine Zidane became emotional as he fulfilled his longtime ambition of taking charge of the French national team. The former Real Madrid coach received a four-year contract and succeeds Didier Deschamps following France’s World Cup semifinal defeat. Zidane’s first match will be a Nations League game in Turkey on Sept. 25.
Quick Look
- France appointed Zidane on a four-year contract.
- He succeeds longtime coach Didier Deschamps.
- Zidane described the appointment as the happiest day of his coaching career.
- He waited five years for the opportunity after leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
- Zidane said he rejected several club offers because he wanted only the France job.
- His first match will be against Turkey on Sept. 25.
- France will then face Belgium on Sept. 28.
- His first home match will be against Italy on Oct. 2.
- Zidane won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 as a France player.
- He scored twice against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final.
- Zidane won the Ballon d’Or later that year.
- He coached Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles.
- France Football Federation President Philippe Diallo called the appointment an exceptional moment.
Full Rewritten Story
Zidane realizes longtime ambition
PARIS — Zinedine Zidane struggled to contain his emotions Tuesday as he was introduced as the new coach of the French national soccer team.
The usually composed former midfielder clenched his fists, and his voice briefly trembled as he spoke about fulfilling a goal he had pursued for five years.
Zidane said leading France had been his dream and described the appointment as the happiest moment of his coaching career.
He replaces Didier Deschamps, his former international teammate and another central figure in France’s greatest soccer achievements.
French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo announced Zidane’s appointment at the federation’s Paris headquarters. The 54-year-old coach received a four-year contract.
Diallo described the occasion as exceptional and hailed Zidane as one of the defining legends of French soccer.
Zidane rejected club offers while waiting
Zidane had not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 despite receiving opportunities to return to club management.
He said he turned down every offer because taking charge of France was the only position he wanted after departing the Spanish powerhouse.
During his absence from coaching, Zidane continued following the national team both as a supporter and as someone who hoped eventually to lead it.
He described accepting the role as an immense joy and said he was ready for the challenge.
Zidane also praised the quality of France’s squad, calling its players and team extraordinary.
Deschamps leaves after lengthy tenure
Zidane succeeds Deschamps after France’s loss to Spain in the semifinals of the latest World Cup.
Deschamps guided France to the 2018 world championship and reached another World Cup final in 2022, losing to Argentina on penalties.
France also finished second at the 2016 European Championship on home soil.
Despite those achievements, some critics argued that Deschamps should have won more trophies with the exceptional talent available to him.
Train France player Christophe Dugarry, who played alongside both men, was among those who criticized the outgoing coach’s results.
Deschamps referred to an increasingly difficult atmosphere toward the end of his time in charge but did not publicly explain the specific tensions.
Zidane congratulated his former teammate for his accomplishments and pledged to give everything he had to help France win.
France expected to adopt different approach
Diallo said he first met Zidane in February 2025 to discuss the position after Deschamps announced that he intended to leave following the 2026 World Cup.
Zidane indicated that his team would play differently from Deschamps’ France.
The former attacking midfielder said he is motivated by creative soccer and goals, reflecting the instincts he developed while playing as a No. 10.
Zidane described himself as a leader during his playing career and said he now intends to guide the team through his knowledge and experience.
Nations League matches await Zidane
Zidane will make his coaching debut for France in a Nations League match away to Turkey on Sept. 25.
France will visit Belgium three days later.
His first appearance at Stade de France as national coach will come against Italy on Oct. 2.
That game carries powerful memories for Zidane because Italy was his opponent in the final match of his playing career—the 2006 World Cup final.
He was sent off during extra time for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi before France lost the championship in a penalty shootout.
Zidane said the Italy match would also be meaningful because he played in the country, knows many people there and speaks Italian.
After Tuesday’s announcement, he went outside the federation headquarters to greet a large gathering of supporters who welcomed him with loud cheers.
Zidane and Deschamps share historic bond
Although Zidane and Deschamps possessed contrasting playing stylestheir careers are permanently connected through France’s greatest period of international success.
Deschamps was the disciplined midfielder and captain of the team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Zidane supplied the creativity and technical brilliance.
Known affectionately as “Zizou,” Zidane became a national hero during the 1998 World Cup, which France hosted.
He scored two headers in the final as France defeated Brazil 3-0 at Stade de France to win its first world championship.
His image was later projected onto the Arc de Triomphe during the celebrations in Paris.
Zidane received the Ballon d’Or that same year, confirming his status as one of the world’s leading players.
From Marseille to soccer superstardom
Zidane was born in Marseille to Algerian parents and grew up in the La Castellane housing estate.
He developed his balance and control while playing on the neighborhood’s hard concrete surfaces. A large mural on one of La Castellane’s buildings now celebrates his connection to the area.
His professional career began with Cannes before he moved to Bordeaux.
Zidane then represented two of Europe’s most prominent clubs, Juventus and Real Madrid, winning domestic league championships with both.
One of his most memorable club moments came in the 2002 Champions League final, when he scored a spectacular left-footed volley that helped Real Madrid win the title.
Zidane delivered unforgettable France performances
Zidane’s international career began in 1994 when he came off the bench and scored twice against the Czech Republic in Bordeaux.
He became France’s central creative force but struggled with an injury during the 2002 World Cup, when the defending champion was eliminated in the group stage.
After initially retiring from international soccer, Zidane returned and helped France reach the 2006 World Cup final.
His performance against Brazil in the quarterfinals became one of the most admired displays of his career.
Zidane controlled the match with spins, feints, flicks and changes of direction as France eliminated the defending champion with a 1-0 victory.
Even Brazil’s celebrated players appeared captivated by his performance.
2006 final produced glory and controversy
Zidane’s 108th and final appearance for France came against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin.
He opened the scoring with a delicately chipped penalty, recording the 31st international goal of his career.
His final appearance ended controversially when he struck Materazzi in the chest with his head during extra time.
The referee dismissed Zidane, forcing him to walk past the World Cup trophy as he left the field.
France subsequently lost the penalty shootout.
Two decades later, Zidane is returning to the national team in a new role, with another opportunity to lead his country toward international glory.
Zidane brings elite coaching record
Zidane’s playing reputation is matched by a highly successful coaching record at Real Madrid.
He guided the Spanish club to three consecutive Champions League titles, becoming the first coach to accomplish that feat in the modern competition.
His experience managing elite players and handling pressure at one of the world’s biggest clubs strengthened his credentials for the France position.
Zidane now inherits a national team filled with established stars and emerging talent, along with the expectation that France should compete for every major trophy.
After waiting five years for the job, he begins with a four-year opportunity to transform his lifelong connection with Les Bleus into success from the sideline.
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