Zinedine Zidane Set to Begin New Era as France Head Coach

Zinedine Zidane is expected to become the next head coach of the French national team following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former Real Madrid manager will reportedly take over after France complete their third-place playoff, marking the end of Didier Deschamps' long tenure in charge of Les Bleus.

Deschamps leaves behind one of the most successful coaching eras in French football history after leading the national team for 14 years. Since taking charge in 2012, he guided France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title, the UEFA Nations League crown in 2021, and appearances in the UEFA Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.

France's 2-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals ended Deschamps' hopes of finishing his reign with another world title. The upcoming third-place match will be his final game before the national team begins a new chapter under different leadership.

Zidane has long been regarded as the leading candidate to succeed Deschamps. The former French international reportedly reached an agreement to take charge after the World Cup and chose to remain out of management despite interest from several major European clubs over the past few years.

Having been away from coaching since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, Zidane now returns for one of the most anticipated appointments in international football. His arrival is expected to usher in a fresh era for France as the team looks to build on its recent success and compete for more major trophies in the years ahead.