Zinedine Zidane has signed a contract to lead the France national team until mid-2030, with the appointment set to take effect on September 1 after Didier Deschamps concluded his tenure, L’Equipe reported this week. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated on his Instagram account that the deal is finalised although the French Football Federation is yet to issue an official announcement. The move marks the end of Deschamps’ 14-year spell in charge during which he guided the team to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2022 final and fourth place at the 2026 tournament that concluded earlier this month.
Deschamps oversaw his 185th and final match as coach in the World Cup bronze-medal game against England, a fixture that brought down the curtain on one of the most decorated eras in French football history, according to coverage in Get French Football News. Under his leadership France also secured the 2021 Nations League title while consistently ranking among the world’s elite sides. The federation is expected to confirm Zidane’s arrival in the coming days, sources told ESPN back in March when a verbal agreement was first reached.
Zidane enters the role as one of France’s most decorated figures, having captained the team to victory in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 before enjoying a stellar coaching career at Real Madrid. Between 2016 and 2021 he secured three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles along with two La Liga crowns during two spells in charge of the Spanish club, a record that underscores his tactical acumen. His appointment has been viewed as a natural progression given his deep ties to the national set-up and widespread recognition as the leading candidate.
The former Juventus and Real Madrid midfielder made his last playing appearance in the 2006 World Cup final, an occasion remembered for his red card following an altercation with Italy’s Marco Materazzi. That exit came after he had already lifted the Champions League as a player with Madrid in 2002, adding to a trophy cabinet that cements his status as a legend for both club and country. L’Equipe noted that his seamless transition from pitch to dugout made him the overwhelming favourite once Deschamps signalled his departure.
Earlier reporting from ESPN in March revealed that Zidane and the federation had reached a verbal understanding well in advance of the World Cup, with final details concerning his backroom staff resolved in recent weeks. The 54-year-old has long expressed his ambition to manage Les Bleus, describing it as a dream role that aligns with his desire to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor. Romano’s confirmation on social media has intensified anticipation for the new era that begins in early September.
France’s performance at the 2026 tournament, which included a quarter-final victory over Morocco before semi-final elimination, highlighted both the strengths and areas for improvement that Zidane will inherit, according to analysis in The Athletic. The incoming coach will have several weeks to assemble his squad ahead of upcoming Nations League fixtures that will serve as his first competitive tests. Zidane’s playing pedigree and coaching success at the highest level position him uniquely to maintain the team’s status among football’s premier nations.
