Zinedine Zidane Appointed France Coach After Deschamps’ Departure.

French football legend Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the France national team, replacing Didier Deschamps, the French Football Federation (FFF) has announced.

The appointment, which had been widely anticipated, marks Zidane’s return to football management after leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The 54-year-old has signed a four-year contract that will run until the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Expressing his excitement over the new role, Zidane described taking charge of Les Bleus as a dream opportunity.

“For me, it’s an immense joy… being able to become the coach of this French team. I don’t have any other words,” Zidane said.

“I’m holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I’m ready for the challenge, that’s what drives me today.”

The former Real Madrid manager said the France national team job was the only position he had wanted since stepping away from club management.

“The France job was the only one I wanted. I’ve had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team,” he said.

Zidane succeeds Deschamps, whose 12-year tenure began in 2012 and ended after France finished fourth at the World Cup. Deschamps led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and guided the team to the final in 2022.

As a player, Zidane was instrumental in France’s 1998 World Cup triumph, scoring twice in the final against Brazil, and also won the 2000 European Championship.

His managerial career has so far been limited to Real Madrid, where he achieved remarkable success, winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018 — a feat unmatched in the modern era of the competition.

Acknowledging the difference between club and international management, Zidane said the new challenge would require a different approach.

Zidane will become the latest former France international to coach the national team, following in the footsteps of Laurent Blanc and Deschamps, both of whom were his teammates during France’s 1998 World Cup-winning campaign.