Zinedine Zidane has officially taken charge of the French national team, fulfilling a long-held ambition to manage the country he famously helped to World Cup glory as a player.
The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, July 28, with Zidane signing a four-year contract that will run through the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
He will officially begin his duties on August 1, bringing an end to Didier Deschamps’ remarkable 14-year spell as France manager.
For Zidane, the appointment represents the culmination of years of patience. The 54-year-old had been widely expected to succeed Deschamps and reportedly turned down several opportunities to return to club management after leaving Real Madrid in 2021 because his priority was to coach Les Bleus.
Speaking at his unveiling, Zidane made clear how deeply the role matters to him, describing his appointment as an immense joy and expressing his pride at taking responsibility for the national team.
“The France team makes you dream,” Zidane said, highlighting the quality of the squad at his disposal.
He added that his main objective would be to ensure France “keep on winning.”
Zidane arrives with an outstanding managerial record. During two spells at Real Madrid, he won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and two La Liga championships.
His success at club level, combined with his legendary status as a player, has made him one of the most anticipated coaching appointments in international football.
His transition to the national team, however, comes with enormous expectations. France remain one of the strongest sides in world football, having won the 2018 World Cup, reached the 2022 final and made the semi-finals of the 2026 tournament under Deschamps.
Zidane will inherit a squad packed with attacking talent, led by captain Kylian Mbappé.
The new manager revealed that he had yet to speak with Mbappé since taking the job, explaining that the forward should first have time to rest before the pair meet in September. He also stopped short of confirming whether Mbappé would retain the captaincy.
Tactically, Zidane is expected to bring his own ideas while maintaining some continuity with the successful foundations established by Deschamps.
He has indicated that his coaching staff will be broadly similar to the team that worked with him at Real Madrid, with several additions.
His first major challenge will come in the UEFA Nations League. France are scheduled to face Turkey away on September 25, followed by further matches against Belgium and Italy.
For a player who became a national hero after winning the 1998 World Cup on home soil, returning to lead France from the touchline is a remarkable new chapter.
Now, Zidane has the opportunity to turn his dream into another piece of French football history.
