Zinedine Zidane appointed France head coach until 2030

Zinedine Zidane appointed France head coach after 2026 World Cup

Zinedine Zidane has officially been appointed head coach of the France national football team, beginning a new chapter for Les Bleus after the end of Didier Deschamps’ long and successful tenure. The French Football Federation confirmed that the former Real Madrid manager has signed a four-year contract running until 2030.

Zidane takes charge following France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team reached the semi-finals but lost 2-0 to Spain before suffering a 6-4 defeat against England in the third-place play-off. Deschamps subsequently stepped down after 14 years in charge, during which he led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final.

The appointment brings one of French football’s greatest figures back to the national team. Zidane played a decisive role in France’s 1998 World Cup triumph and later helped Les Bleus win UEFA Euro 2000. He will now try to reproduce that success from the touchline and guide a talented new generation toward major international trophies.

The 54-year-old has not managed a team since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. However, his coaching record remains exceptional. Across two spells in Spain, Zidane won 11 trophies, including three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, as well as two La Liga championships.

Zidane will officially begin his work with France ahead of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League campaign. His long-term objectives will include qualification for Euro 2028 and preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Expectations will be extremely high. France possess one of the deepest squads in international football, while Zidane brings elite-level experience, authority and a proven ability to manage star players. His arrival is expected to introduce fresh tactical ideas while preserving the winning culture established during the Deschamps era.

For Zidane, the appointment represents the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition. For France, it marks the beginning of a new cycle under a national icon whose career has already been closely connected with the country’s greatest football achievements.