Zinedine Zidane has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the French national team, bringing years of speculation to an end after succeeding Didier Deschamps.
The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, with the former Real Madrid manager signing a four-year contract that will keep him in charge through the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Zidane replaces Deschamps, who stepped down after France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup, ending a successful 14-year spell in charge of Les Bleus.
Speaking during his unveiling in Paris, the former France captain described the appointment as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.
“For me, it’s an immense joy to become the coach of this French team,” Zidane said. “The France job was the only one I wanted.”
The 54-year-old revealed that he rejected several offers to manage club sides after leaving Real Madrid in 2021 because he wanted to wait for the opportunity to lead his country.
“I’ve had offers over the last four or five years to coach clubs, but I turned them all down because I wanted the France national team,” he added.
DailyInsightNG report that Zidane has been widely regarded as the leading candidate for the position since Deschamps announced plans to leave after the World Cup.
As a player, Zidane remains one of France’s greatest football icons. He inspired the country to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1998, scoring twice in the final against Brazil, before helping France lift the UEFA European Championship in 2000.
His coaching career has also been equally remarkable.
During two spells with Real Madrid, Zidane guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018—an achievement unmatched in the modern era of the competition.
Although he acknowledged that managing a national team presents a different challenge from club football, Zidane expressed confidence in his ability to continue France’s winning tradition.
“I will do things my own way,” he said. “I’m going to give everything so this team continues to win.”
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo praised Zidane’s winning mentality, revealing that one statement from the former midfielder convinced him he was the right choice.
According to Diallo, Zidane told him during discussions: “I know how to win.”
The federation president said those words reflected the confidence and ambition needed to lead one of world football’s most successful national teams.
Zidane is expected to begin his tenure later this year, with his first match coming away to Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on September 25.
His first home game in charge of France is scheduled against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.