The World Cup-winning legend succeeds Didier Deschamps after signing a four-year contract with Les Bleus.
France | By Taieb Khatizwal
Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the France national football team, signing a four-year contract that will keep him in charge through the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The French Football Federation confirmed the appointment after Didier Deschamps stepped down following France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Deschamps led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final during his 14-year tenure.
Zidane, one of France’s greatest footballers, starred in the country’s 1998 World Cup triumph, scoring twice in the final against Brazil, before captaining Les Bleus to the 2006 World Cup final.
The 54-year-old also enjoyed a highly successful coaching career with Real Madrid, where he guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, along with 11 major trophies during his two spells in charge.
His appointment makes him the third member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning squad to become national team head coach, following Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps.
Zidane inherits one of Europe’s strongest squads, featuring stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Désiré Doué, as France begins preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.