Zinedine Zidane appointed France national team manager

The French Football Federation has officially confirmed the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as the new manager of the France national football team. The announcement follows a scheduled press conference at the federation’s Paris headquarters, marking the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure. Zidane, who won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship as a player, returns to management after a five-year absence following his resignation from Real Madrid after the 2020-2021 season.

Zidane is the only manager in history to secure three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid, achieving this feat in 2016, 2017, and 2018. His appointment comes after France’s poor performance at the 2024 European Championship, where Deschamps’ record was described as largely positive despite the results. The federation has tasked Zidane with revitalising the squad, leveraging his extensive experience in managing elite players with strong personalities to foster team harmony.

Tactically, Zidane is expected to implement a proactive, attack-minded style, potentially utilising a classic number 10 role. This approach aligns with his history at Real Madrid, where he employed various formations including a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield, using Isco as a No. 10 in the 2017 and 2018 Champions League finals. The French Football Federation notes that Michael Olise’s recent performances, including becoming the first player to register seven assists in a single World Cup, have caught Zidane’s attention as a key factor in this tactical shift.

The appointment places significant emphasis on player management rather than intensive tactical drilling, as national team duties typically involve fewer training sessions than club management. Zidane has previously stated that his target is for players to have fun on the pitch and express their full potential in their most natural positions. He has a proven track record of getting the best out of world-class talents such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro during his time at Real Madrid.

France currently possesses a conveyor belt of similar elite talents, including William Saliba, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé. Zidane’s aura and historical significance are expected to command deference from the squad, with many players having grown up idolising him. Mbappé, for instance, was only eight years old when Zidane delivered his iconic performance against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals. The federation anticipates that Zidane’s ability to manage dressing room dynamics will be crucial to his success in this new role.