Zinedine Zidane Appointed New France Football Coach Until 2030

Football legend Zinedine Zidane has officially taken the helm as the new head coach of the French national team, committing to a four-year contract that extends to 2030. The announcement marks the fulfillment of a long-held ambition for the 54-year-old, who stated at his introductory press conference in Paris that he had turned down numerous coaching opportunities over the past four to five years, as his sole focus was on managing the national squad.

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For the past 4-5 years, I have received many offers from various coaches, but I refused them all. All I wanted was the national team.

Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps, who concluded his 14-year tenure after France's fourth-place finish in the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps, a key figure alongside Zidane in France's 1998 World Cup victory as players, departs having led the team through a significant era. Zidane now faces the challenge of building on that legacy and guiding the talented French squad through future competitions.

His coaching career includes a highly successful stint with Real Madrid, where he led the club to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, after initially managing their reserve team. After a second spell with Real Madrid from 2019 to 2021, he took a five-year hiatus from management. While acknowledging that managing a national team differs from club coaching, Zidane expressed no fear, emphasizing his passion for the game and scoring goals.

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National team coach is a new job, but I am not afraid. It's what I wanted.

France boasts a formidable attacking lineup, including Kylian Mbappé, who was the top scorer in the recent World Cup, alongside talents like Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé. The world will be watching to see how Zidane's pragmatic approach and potentially more laissez-faire tactical style will enhance the strengths of the French team. Meanwhile, Italy has also appointed Roberto Mancini as their new head coach, with both Zidane and Mancini set to make their managerial debuts in the upcoming September international break during the UEFA Nations League.

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What moves me is the game. It's scoring goals.