Zinedine Zidane Officially Appointed France Coach Through 2030 World Cup

Zinedine Zidane has officially taken the helm as the new head coach of the French national football team, replacing Didier Deschamps, who led the team to victory in the 2018 World Cup. Zidane has signed a contract that will keep him in charge through the 2030 World Cup.

"I am ready to face the challenge," Zidane stated, expressing his happiness at accepting the role. He revealed that this was the only position he truly wanted after leaving Real Madrid. "I have had offers for four or five years to take a club, I have rejected them all for the national team. It was the only thing I wanted to do after my experience with Madrid," the legendary player and coach shared at a press conference.

The French Football Federation (FFF) President, Philippe Diallo, confirmed the widely anticipated appointment at the federation's headquarters in Paris. The 54-year-old Zidane makes his return to the national team setup two decades after his final game as a player – the infamous 2006 World Cup final in Germany, marked by his headbutt on Marco Materazzi.

This appointment also marks Zidane's return to coaching five years after his last stint with Real Madrid. His managerial career with the Spanish club is distinguished by three consecutive Champions League titles during his first tenure (2016-2018) and a second spell from 2019 to 2021.