Zidane named France coach, first job since 2021
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- Zidane has been appointed France coach on a four-year contract, replacing Didier Deschamps who held the role for 14 years (2012–2026).
- FFF president Philippe Diallo announced the appointment at federation headquarters in Paris on Tuesday, saying talks began in February 2025 after Deschamps signaled his post-2026 exit.
- Zidane had been out of coaching since resigning as Real Madrid boss in May 2021 and said he turned down all club offers during the five-year wait for the France job.
- Under Deschamps, France won the 2018 World Cup and were losing finalists at the 2016 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup.
- France exited the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 semifinal loss to Spain, then fell 6-4 to England in the third-place playoff.
- Zidane's first games are UEFA Nations League fixtures against Türkiye (Sept. 25), Belgium, and Italy, with Euro 2028 qualifying starting next year.
- As a player, Zidane scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil and won Euro 2000; as a coach, he led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016–2018.
Why it matters: Zidane inherits France on a four-year deal after a five-year absence from the touchline, with his first competitive test against Türkiye on Sept. 25 in the Nations League. The change ends Deschamps' 14-year reign, which peaked with the 2018 World Cup but concluded with a semifinal exit to Spain despite France being among the 2026 favorites.
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