By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to succeed Didier Deschamps as head coach of the France national football team after the FIFA World Cup 2026, though no official agreement has yet been announced by the French Football Federation.
Deschamps’ current contract runs until the conclusion of the 2026 tournament, a timeline already confirmed by the federation and one that could mark the end of one of the most successful managerial eras in French football history.
Zidane, one of France’s greatest ever players, played a decisive role in the country’s historic 1998 FIFA World Cup triumph on home soil. While Deschamps captained that side, Zidane was its inspirational figure on the pitch, scoring twice in the final against Brazil to deliver France’s first world title and cement his legendary status.
Since retiring, Zidane has built an extraordinary coaching reputation, rising to prominence at Real Madrid CF, where he became one of the most successful managers in modern football.
After initially taking charge of Real Madrid’s reserve side, Zidane was promoted to the senior team in 2016 and immediately ushered in a historic era of dominance. He led the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018—an unprecedented achievement in the modern format—along with two La Liga titles, two FIFA Club World Cups, and multiple domestic and international trophies across two spells in charge.
His calm authority, tactical intelligence, and ability to manage elite dressing rooms earned him global recognition and reinforced his credentials as the natural successor to Deschamps.
Zidane has not taken another coaching job since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, a period during which he has consistently been linked with the France role.
Leave feedback about this