Zidane follows Deschamps: France faces a coaching change

It was known that Zidane's former teammate would be leaving the French after 14 years. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THE RENOWNED NEWSPAPER "L'ÉQUIPE" ALSO REPORTED THAT THE FORMER WORLD AND EUROPEAN CHAMPION WOULD TAKE OVER THE FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM IN THE SUMMER. With Zidane, who led the country to the 1998 World Cup title as a player and won Euro 2000, one of the most defining figures in French football returns to the big stage.

Success as a coach at Real Madrid

As a player, Zidane's career is among the most dazzling in football history. In his final match as a professional, he lost the 2006 World Cup final against Italy and was sent off after a headbutt. Previously, he had triumphed in the European top flight with Real in 2002 and was named World Player of the Year three times. His relationship with France remained strained for a long time after the red card in the World Cup final.

On the bench, Zidane was particularly successful at Real Madrid. He led the Royals to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 and also won the Spanish league title twice as Real coach. He later returned to the bench, managing Real Madrid again from 2019 to 2021. A further stint in Madrid did not materialize; instead, he stayed in the background as an advisor and TV expert.

Challenges and perspectives

France is undergoing a generational change at the most important sporting position with this switch. Deschamps had led the team to the 2018 World Cup title and into the 2022 World Cup final thriller against Argentina, where he lost the showpiece match. At his home Euro 2016, he also missed out on the trophy against Portugal in the final. Overall, the outgoing coach has one World Cup title, one European Championship final, one Nations League triumph, and numerous major tournament experiences to his name.

The Équipe Tricolore boasts a broad pool of attacking talent around Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Whether Zidane will reshape the team in his tactical style, elevate first stars from the second row to the forefront, or stick with his predecessor's system remains open. From a sporting standpoint, how quickly he wins the trust of the experienced core around Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, and Dayot Upamecano will likely prove decisive.

Reactions and outlook

The contract term until mid-2030 covers two major tournaments: the 2026 World Cup in the United States, which has already begun, as well as the 2030 World Cup finals, which will take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Zidane thus gets the opportunity to make history at the very place where his playing career ended so dramatically. His first tasks will be the Nations League matches in the autumn and the qualification for the upcoming European Championship.

The succession at the FFF is meanwhile only one aspect of a broader overhaul in French football. President Noël Le Graët left the federation in the summer of 2023, with Philippe Diallo taking over on an interim basis. Numerous structural decisions now lie ahead under the new federation chief, including contracts with TV rights holders and the organization of the next international match phases. Zidane's appointment is seen internally as a signal of sporting continuity.

Outside France, the personnel move is being noted with close attention internationally. In Spain, the change is being followed with particular interest, given that Zidane was the coach of Real Madrid between 2016 and 2021 and thus the arch-rival of FC Barcelona. In England and Italy, discussions focus mainly on the commercial effects of a prominent coaching figure, especially with regard to marketing, sponsoring, and TV ratings.

Reactions from the squad are still pending. Neither the captain nor officials of the Équipe Tricolore have made any public statements. French media expect Zidane to make his first appearance as national team coach in the Nations League at the end of September. Should he lift the World Cup trophy in 2030, he would become world champion with France as a coach after doing so as a player in 1998.

The FFF federation has yet to confirm Zidane's appointment. An official press conference or a date for his presentation is also still pending. Industry insiders, however, expect the federation to issue a statement in the coming days. Until then, the personnel matter remains one of the most discussed sports stories of the summer.

The timing of the contract signing, just two days after the end of the World Cup in the United States, underlines the efforts of all involved to reach a swift resolution. With the appointment of a world star as coach, France is also responding to the missed title opportunities at recent major tournaments and intends to usher in a new era.