PARIS, July 28– Zinedine Zidane was appointed head coach of the France national team on Tuesday, ending years of speculation by taking over one of international football’s most coveted jobs.
The 54-year-old former France captain succeeds Didier Deschamps, who had revealed last year that he would step down after 14 years in charge following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The French Football Federation said Zidane has signed a contract through the 2030 World Cup.
One of the greatest players in French football history, Zidane inspired the host nation to its first World Cup title in 1998, scoring twice in the final against Brazil, before also helping Les Bleus win the European Championships two years later. He was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1998 and remains one of the country’s most celebrated sporting figures.
Although this is Zidane’s first international coaching role, he arrives with an outstanding club resume. Across two spells in charge of Real Madrid, he led the Spanish giants to three straight Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018, while also winning two La Liga crowns, two Club World Cups and two UEFA Super Cups.
Zidane has not coached since leaving Madrid for a second time in 2021, despite being linked with several high-profile club jobs. For years he was widely viewed as Deschamps’ natural successor as France head coach.
His first competitive game in charge will be away to Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League in September.
Deschamps leaves as France’s longest-serving coach in history after having taken over in 2012. During his tenure, France won the 2018 World Cup and the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, and finished runner-up at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
