Former Real Madrid manager and French football icon Zinedine Zidane is set to be officially appointed as the next head coach of the France national team, succeeding long-serving manager Didier Deschamps following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to reports by Fabrizio Romano, the decision to bring in Zidane was unequivocally made as early as last November. The 54-year-old tactician has reportedly spent the last eight months turning down all domestic and international club proposals, maintaining an exclusive focus on taking over the reins of Les Bleus. Zidane has already finalized his incoming backroom coaching staff, with formal paperwork and contract execution expected to be completed by the French Football Federation (FFF) later this month.
The transition marks the conclusion of Didier Deschamps’ historic 14-year tenure, which began in 2012. Deschamps, who previously guided France to a global title in 2018 and a secondary final appearance in 2022, pre-announced his intention to step down at the end of the current cycle. His final match leading the national team will take place this weekend when France faces England in the 2026 World Cup third-place play-off.
Zidane inherits one of the most elite, youth-propelled squads in international football, featuring established superstars such as Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and William Saliba. Prominent football figures, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, have publicly backed the appointment, noting that the star-studded French roster requires elite player management rather than foundational coaching, a quality Zidane demonstrated seamlessly during his historic European triple-crown run at Real Madrid.
