Zinedine Zidane named France coach after World Cup exit

Zinedine Zidane is the new France coach, with the French Football Federation announcing on X that the former midfielder will take charge of the national team, Reuters reported Tuesday. The move puts one of France’s defining football figures in charge after Didier Deschamps’ long spell ended following the 2026 World Cup.

Reuters reported that Zidane’s appointment comes two weeks after Deschamps left the job. France finished fourth at the World Cup, and Deschamps’ last match was a 6-4 defeat by England.

The French federation unveiled Zidane at its headquarters in Paris, according to Reuters. Zidane, 54, moves into the national-team role after previously managing Real Madrid.

When does Zinedine Zidane start as France coach?

Reuters reported that Zidane is expected to begin with an away UEFA Nations League match against Turkiye. France are then due to host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

The appointment gives France a successor to Deschamps after 14 years under the same head coach. During that span, Reuters reported, Deschamps oversaw 185 matches and 120 wins.

Deschamps’ teams won the 2018 World Cup and the 2020-21 Nations League. France also reached the Euro 2016 final and the 2022 World Cup final during his tenure, according to Reuters.

What is Zidane’s France background?

Zidane and Deschamps share a central place in France’s modern football history. Reuters reported that they were teammates when France won the 1998 World Cup on home soil.

Zidane played a leading role in that tournament and won the Ballon d’Or the same year, according to Reuters. He was capped 108 times by France and scored 31 goals for the national team.

His return places a World Cup-winning player at the head of a side coming off a fourth-place finish. The early schedule will quickly place him into competitive matches, with Turkiye and Italy listed as the first opponents of his expected tenure.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.