Official | Zinédine Zidane appointed France’s national team manager

Official | Zinédine Zidane appointed France’s national team manager Zinédine Zidane (54) has been appointed as France’s national team manager , Fédération Française de Football (FFF) has announced on Tuesday. Zidane was the overwhelming favourite to replace Didier Deschamps, whose 14-year tenure has concluded after the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps announced early last year that he would step down, paving the way for Zidane’s return to management. Zidane has penned a four-year deal with France. Zidane, one of France’s greatest ever players, has made a seamless switch to management. Four years after his retirement, he joined his former club, Real Madrid, as a special advisor to the first team. In 2013, he was appointed assistant coach to Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. After a spell as Real Madrid Castilla head coach, Zidane replaced Rafael Benitez as the senior team’s manager in early 2016. Zidane went on to oversee an unprecedented three-peat of UEFA Champions League wins with  Los Merengues.  Zidane unexpectedly resigned from his position only days after securing Real Madrid’s 13th European Cup, citing the club’s need for a change. Zidane eventually returned as the team’s head coach in 2019, after the ill-fated spells of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari.  Zidane’s Real Madrid secured the Covid-affected 2019-2020 La Liga, his second league title after 2017. Zidane resigned again from his post after Real went trophyless in 2020-2021. The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner was a free agent since. In 2022, Zidane claimed to L’Equipe he wanted to manage  Les Bleus and “ come full circle ” with the French national team, adding that representing his country was the best thing that ever happened to him. “ If it’s meant to be, it will be “. And now, it is. GFFN | Bastien Cheval