Zidane named France coach on four-year deal
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- Zidane was appointed France head coach on a four-year contract by FFF president Philippe Diallo at the federation's Paris headquarters on Tuesday, replacing Didier Deschamps who departs after 14 years in charge (since 2012) during which France won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals.
- Zidane has been out of management since resigning as Real Madrid boss in May 2021, and said he turned down every club offer during the five-year gap because the France job was "the only thing I wanted."
- The FFF opened formal talks with Zidane in February 2025 after Deschamps confirmed he would stand down following the 2026 World Cup, where France were eliminated 2-0 by Spain in the semifinals and lost 6-4 to England in the third-place playoff.
- France's first fixtures under Zidane are this autumn's UEFA Nations League, drawn against Türkiye (Sept. 25 opener in Paris), Belgium and Italy, before Euro 2028 qualifying begins next year.
- As a player, Zidane scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil, won Euro 2000 and the Ballon d'Or, and later won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018.
Why it matters: Zidane inherits a France side that exited the 2026 World Cup in the semifinals, with his first test the Sept. 25 Nations League opener against Türkiye. The four-year contract and his five-year refusal of club offers point to a long-term project, with Euro 2028 qualifying ahead and no major trophy since Deschamps' 2018 World Cup win.
