Zinedine Zidane has been announced as France’s new manager, with the long-expected announcement having finally been delivered.
The 54-year-old has signed a four-year deal with Les Bleus as he succeeds his former Juventus and France team-mate Didier Deschamps.
Deschamps left his 14-year tenure as France manager at the end of the World Cup, with his side losing 2-0 to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals. They finished fourth after a 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off.
Zidane’s unveiling took place on Tuesday morning at the French Football Federation’s (FFF) headquarters in Paris, alongside FFF president Philippe Diallo.
It is Zidane’s first foray back into management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, revealing he has rejected offers in the meantime as he waited for his ‘dream’ to become France boss.
‘The French team was the only thing I wanted to do,’ Zidane told reporters.
Zinedine Zidane has been announced as France’s new manager on a four-year contract
He revealed he has rejected club management roles as he waited for his ‘dream’ job instead
Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps (centre) who bowed out at the end of the World Cup
‘I’ve always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager. I didn’t take a club job for that reason. The only thing I wanted to do after Madrid was manage the French national team.
‘I could have taken on a three-year role because Deschamps was there. He made that decision in January 2025, and the very next day I knew I wanted to be the next one. We met with the president and the deal was sealed.’
Deschamps oversaw 185 matches and 120 victories, guiding France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2020-21 Nations League trophy, and the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.
He and Zidane share a long association, having been team-mates in France’s 1998 World Cup-winning side on home soil.
Zidane played a pivotal role in that triumph and won the Ballon d’Or that year. He made 108 appearances for the national side, scoring 31 goals and contributing 29 assists.
‘You’ll see my [team’s] style soon,’ Zidane said. ‘I’m driven by the game. I was a No 10, and what drives me is scoring goals.
‘I lived in Spain for 25 years, you know what that means. On the pitch, I was a leader. Now I’m becoming a leader through my experience.
‘Winning in ’98 is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, winning with my team-mates. I spent those four or five years waiting for that day. I’m emotional; you can’t see it, but I’m so excited. I’m happy.’
The pair were team-mates at Juventus and France as players (pictured for Les Bleus in 2000)
Speaking about Zidane’s arrival, Diallo revealed that negotiations with the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner began in February 2025 after Deschamps said he would stand down after the 2026 World Cup.
‘This is an exceptional moment, exceptional because of the person sat next to me,’ Diallo said. ‘Zinedine is one of the legends of French soccer and for many years he said one of his dreams was to take charge of the France team.’
‘I would like to thank Didier Deschamps and his staff for their work. For 14 years he led the France team to the top.’
The length of the deal means Zidane will work through until at least the 2030 World Cup, incorporating two Nations Leagues (2026-27 and 2028-29) as well as Euro 2028 before the major showpiece.
His first match in the hotseat will be away to Türkiye in the Nations League on September 25. After that comes a trip to local rivals Belgium on September 28 with a clash against Italy on October 2 sparking his first game in charge on home soil.
