Zinedine Zidane has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the French national team, signing a contract that will keep him in charge until after the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The French football legend also revealed he turned down several coaching offers in recent years as he waited for the opportunity to lead Les Bleus.
The French Football Federation confirmed Zidane’s appointment following the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign as national team coach. The former Real Madrid manager, who has been out of coaching since leaving the Spanish giants in 2021, said managing France was the only role he truly wanted.
“After Real Madrid, I only wanted one job: France. I rejected multiple offers in the last four or five years,” Zidane said after his unveiling.
Zidane, who guided Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, now begins a new chapter with the French national team. His tenure is expected to cover the UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup as France look to add to their international success under one of the country’s greatest football icons.
