Zinedine Zidane appointed France head coach on four-year deal
French Football Federation confirms appointment of Zidane, who says leading the national side was the only role he desired
The French Football Federation (FFF) has officially appointed Zinedine Zidane as the head coach of the national team, ending months of speculation regarding the successor to Didier Deschamps. The announcement was confirmed on Tuesday by FFF president Philippe Diallo, who had previously hinted at the selection in March by noting the new manager required a strong connection with France.
Zidane, aged 54, has signed a four-year contract that runs until the conclusion of the 2030 World Cup, which is co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The former Real Madrid manager and World Cup-winning captain stated that coaching the national team was the only job he wanted, fulfilling a long-held ambition to lead Les Bleus.
The appointment follows France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, a result that prompted Deschamps to step down from his position. The transition marks a significant shift in leadership for the national side, with Zidane taking over from the outgoing head coach after a period of uncertainty surrounding the team’s future direction.
FFF president Philippe Diallo’s confirmation on Tuesday formalised the decision, bringing clarity to the federation’s search for a new leader. The move concludes a search process that had been ongoing since the conclusion of the 2026 tournament, with Diallo having indicated earlier in the year that the next manager would need to possess a deep affinity with the French football landscape.
Zidane’s return to the national setup represents a continuity of legacy, given his status as a former captain of the team. His tenure will be measured against the expectations set by previous successes, with the contract structure aligning his leadership directly with the preparation and execution of the 2030 World Cup campaign.
