Zinedine Zidane Appointed France Manager, Signs Four-Year Deal Through 2030

The appointment

The French Football Federation has confirmed Zinedine Zidane as France's new head coach on a four-year contract running through the 2030 World Cup. He replaces Didier Deschamps, whose 14-year tenure — spanning the 2018 World Cup title and a runners-up finish at the 2022 World Cup — concluded after this summer's tournament. Deschamps first announced his intention to step down in January 2025, clearing the path for Zidane's return.

"The only thing I wanted to do"

Zidane, 54, had turned down a string of club offers since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, waiting specifically for this job. "The only thing I wanted to do after Real Madrid is to coach the France national team," he said. "I received offers to take charge of clubs over four or five years, but I turned them all down for the France national team. It is the only thing I wanted to do. I knew this from a young age; I started in the youth ranks, and I went through all the stages until I reached the senior team."

He added: "Today is a continuation of my journey, and a dream come true… I am reining in my emotions because I feel so many things inside me. I am ready for the challenge."

A player who came full circle

Zidane won 108 caps for France between 1994 and 2006, scoring 31 goals, and captained the side to the 1998 World Cup, scoring twice in the 3-0 final win over Brazil. His playing career ended abruptly at the 2006 World Cup final, sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi. Speaking to L'Equipe in 2022, he'd already said he wanted to "come full circle" with the national team one day — "if it's meant to be, it will be."

The Real Madrid record

Zidane's coaching career began as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant at Real Madrid in 2013, before he took charge of Real Madrid Castilla and was promoted to the senior job in January 2016, replacing Rafael Benítez. He became the first manager in history to win three consecutive Champions League titles (2016, 2017, 2018), resigned days after the third, then returned in 2019 to win a Covid-affected La Liga title before leaving for good in 2021 after a trophyless season.

What's next

Zidane praised his predecessor on the way in: "I praise Deschamps' efforts, and this is an opportunity to say well done to him. Something new will begin, but the goal is always the same: to win."