Zinedine Zidane Appointed France National Football Coach

Zinedine Zidane is set to lead the French national football team, officially taking over from Didier Deschamps. The 54-year-old has signed a four-year contract, running until the 2030 World Cup, according to the French Football Federation. This appointment marks Zidane's return to coaching after a five-year break, having last managed Real Madrid, where he secured three Champions League titles.

Zidane, a legendary figure in French football, expressed his profound honor and sense of responsibility. "I have said it often: there is nothing greater than the French national team," he stated in a federation release. "Therefore, it is a joy and of course a great honor to become the coach of this French national team. But it is also a responsibility."

He officially begins his duties as the new "Sélectionneur" in early September, just ahead of the Nations League matches against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy. His predecessor, Deschamps, concluded a 14-year tenure after the recent World Cup. Deschamps' successful era included the 2018 World Cup triumph, but also saw France finish as runners-up in the 2016 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup. Deschamps, a World Cup winner as a player alongside Zidane in 1998, leaves a significant legacy.

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I have said it often: there is nothing greater than the French national team. Therefore, it is a joy and of course a great honor to become the coach of this French national team. But it is also a responsibility.