France Set To Unveil Zidane As New Head Coach On Tuesday

The French Football Federation (FFF) will unveil the country’s next national team head coach at a news conference on July 28, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to take over from Didier Deschamps.

Although the FFF did not name Zidane in its official statement on Thursday, supersport reports that the former France captain remains the overwhelming favourite to become the next manager of Les Bleus after Deschamps’ 12-year reign came to an end.

Deschamps, who took charge of France in 2012, stepped down following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the national team finished fourth.

Zidane, 54, has been regarded as the front-runner for the position for several years and has consistently expressed his desire to manage France one day. The former playmaker has been waiting for the opportunity to lead the national team since leaving Real Madrid five years ago.

The appointment would see Zidane follow in the footsteps of former France team-mates Laurent Blanc and Deschamps, who both moved from playing roles with Les Bleus to coaching the national side.

A World Cup winner in 1998 and European champion in 2000 as a player, Zidane has so far managed only Real Madrid at club level. However, his spell in charge of the Spanish giants produced one of football’s greatest managerial achievements.

During his first stint as Real Madrid boss, Zidane guided the club to three successive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, becoming the first manager in the modern era of the competition to achieve the feat.

With his legendary status as both a player and coach, Zidane’s expected appointment marks the beginning of a new era for France as the team prepares for future international challenges.