Zinedine Zidane has been confirmed as the new head coach of the France men’s national team, replacing Didier Deschamps.
It was widely expected that Zidane would take over from Deschamps, who confirmed in January 2025 that he was going to leave his role at the end of the 2026 World Cup cycle.
Zidane, who has signed a four-year deal with the national team, will officially start in the role on August 1, and will announce the rest of his staff in September.
Speaking at a press conference, the 54-year-old said: “For me, today represents continuity, a dream. I’ve had offers over the last four or five years to take charge of a club, and I’ve turned them all down for the sake of the French national team.
“It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve been part of it since I was a lad; I started in the under-15s and worked my way up through every level to reach the senior squad.
“I’m going to give it my all to ensure this team keeps winning – that’s the only thing that drives me.”
At Tuesday’s press conference, Zidane was also asked about his style of play and national team captain Kylian Mbappe.
He said: “We haven’t spoken to Kylian (yet). The most important thing for him is to get some rest. We’ll have the chance to talk to him and all the players in September.”
Kylian Mbappe was named France captain in March 2023.
“We’re going to do things differently. Didier is Didier. Laurent Blanc is Laurent Blanc. Zizou is Zizou. I’m going to try to do what I know how to do.
“There’s no rupture with the past. I believe it’s a continuation. That continuity simply means putting everything in place so that the French team can keep winning. That’s my only aim.
“Afterwards, we’ll have the chance to discuss it in detail to find out what my game plan is, my playing philosophy, all those things.”
Deschamps’ France team had looked imperious at the World Cup, winning all three of their group-stage games while scoring 10 goals, but after beating Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco in the knockouts, they were stifled by Spain in the semi-finals.
That 2-0 defeat was Deschamps’ penultimate game as France coach, with his team beaten 6-4 by England in the third-place play-off four days later.
Regarded as one of France’s greatest-ever players, Zidane has been out of work as a coach since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in May 2021.
Deschamps oversaw France’s World Cup win in Russia in 2018 and led them to the final in Qatar four years ago, where they were beaten by Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties.
The 57-year-old, a former teammate of Zidane for Juventus and the national team, also guided France to the final of Euro 2016, where they lost to Portugal.
Zinedine Zidane helped France win the 1998 World Cup alongside Fabian Barthez, Bixante Lizarazu and Didier Deschamps.
As a coach, Zidane enjoyed remarkable success with Madrid, guiding them to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015 to 2018 in his first spell in charge.
He also won La Liga in 2016-17 and 2019-20, but left after a rare trophyless season.
He has since been linked with several jobs, including the U.S. men’s national team vacancy in 2023 and Manchester United on various occasions.
Source – New York Times
(vitalnewsngr.com)
