Zinedine Zidane achieves ‘dream’ as he takes cost of France staff

Zinedine Zidane, newly appointed coach of the France nationwide soccer staff, attends a media convention on the headquarters of French Football Federation headquarters in Paris, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

PARIS— Moments after being introduced as France’s new coach on Tuesday, Zinedine Zidane clenched his fists and his often measured voice trembled somewhat.

“I’m excited,” he stated. “The France team makes you dream. We have extraordinary players, an extraordinary team.”

Zidane coached Real Madrid till leaving in 2021. He replaces Didier Deschamps on the helm of France staff he led to glory as arguably its biggest ever participant.

“I’ve waited five years for this chance, so that’s why I’m a bit emotional,” stated Zidane, including that it was the happiest day of his profession as coach.

“I’ve always watched this side as a fan and also as a future coach, I won’t hide it.” Zidane added. “That’s why I didn’t take a club side. I told myself that the only thing I wanted to do after Madrid was taking the France team.”

French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo introduced Zidane’s appointment on the FFF headquarters in Paris on Tuesday, saying he has been given a 4-year contract.

Diallo referred to as the hiring of Zidane “an exceptional moment,” calling Zidane “one of the legends of French soccer.”

The 54-year-old Zidane might have gone to a different membership after leaving Madrid in 2021. But there was no method he would.

“I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club,” he stated. “I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”

Zidane referred to as it “an immense joy” taking cost.

“I have so many emotions,” he stated. “I am ready for the challenge.”

Zidane praised Deschamps, who gained the 2018 World Cup and stepped down after the current version, the place Les Bleus misplaced within the semifinals to Spain.

“I will give everything so that this team can win,” Zidane stated. “I would also like to congratulate DD (Deschamps) for these remarkable years.”

Diallo stated he met Zidane for talks in February, 2025 after Deschamps stated he would stand down following the 2026 World Cup. Zidane stated France would play in a different way to the way it did underneath Deschamps.

“What motivates me is the game, I was a No. 10, I like goals,” Zidane stated. “I was a leader on the field and now I want to be a leader by experience.”

His first recreation will likely be away to Turkey within the Nations League on Sept. 25, adopted by a match in Belgium three days later.

Home followers want to attend till Oct. 2 for a glimpse of Zidane at Stade de France, when France performs Italy, 20 years after he was despatched off towards Italy within the 2006 World Cup last for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

“I’ve noted all of the four matches to come,” Zidane stated, tapping his brow. “Italy is special, because I played there, because I know people, because I speak Italian. All of those things.”

After the announcement, Zidane greeted a big gathering of followers outdoors the federation headquarters they usually cheered loudly when he arrived.

From Deschamps to Zidane

France’s head coach Didier Deschamps speaks throughout a information convention forward of their third-place World Cup soccer match towards England, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

France misplaced the World Cup last on penalties in 2022 and misplaced the European Championship last on residence soil in 2016. Some Deschamps critics, amongst them former France teammate Christophe Dugarry, stated he ought to have gained extra with the gamers he had.

Deschamps described an “an unbreathable atmosphere” on the finish of his tenure, with out detailing what the tensions had been.

Zidane and Deschamps had been various kinds of midfielders, however are ceaselessly linked by glory.

The industrious Deschamps was France’s captain and the mercurial Zinedine was the inventive drive when France gained the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Affectionately nicknamed “Zizou” his face was beamed onto the Arc de Triomphe the evening France celebrated its first World Cup triumph in ’98. An impressed Zidane scored two headers within the last in a 3-0 win towards Brazil at Stade de France and later that 12 months he gained the Ballon d’Or.

Zizou’s rise

Born in Marseille to Algerian mother and father, Zidane grew up enjoying within the property of La Castellane, which has a large mural of Zidane on one its tower blocks. It was on the property’s concrete pitches the place Zidane nurtured his unimaginable stability, to keep away from falling on the rock-hard floor.

Zidane’s membership profession took him from Cannes to Bordeaux after which to 2 of the world’s greatest golf equipment: Italian large Juventus and Madrid.

His worldwide profession started in 1994, when he scored two beautiful objectives towards the Czech Republic after approaching in its place, in entrance of his residence followers in Bordeaux.

He gained league titles with Juve and Madrid and scored an excellent volley to assist Madrid win the Champions League in 2002.

With Zidane carrying an harm, France flopped on the 2002 World Cup — going out within the group stage — however reached the 2006 last after Zidane got here out of worldwide retirement.

His efficiency in a 1-0 victory over Brazil within the quarterfinals was Zidane at his balletic greatest: a hypnotic mixture of drag-backs, stepovers, spins on the ball, and flicks over the shoulder.

The Brazilians had been in awe and even Ronaldinho — a Ballon d’Or winner himself — appeared captivated.

His 108th and last recreation for France was towards Italy within the last and he scored early with a deft Panenka-style penalty for his thirty first, and final, worldwide purpose.

Then, with tens of millions watching around the globe, an notorious second noticed him stroll again up the sector and slam his brow into Materazzi’s chest, sending the tall defender flying backward.

Zidane trudged previous the gold-tinted World Cup trophy as he left the sector in Berlin, his worldwide profession over.

Now he has one other probability to guide Les Bleus to glory.