Zidane to take over French team after World Cup

Zinedine Zidane is believed to be preparing for a return to the dugout after agreeing to takeover the French national team after the World Cup, according to reports.

The France and Real Madrid legend has shunned replacement roles since leaving the Bernabeu in 2021 after his second stint in the dugout. 

The 53-year-old tactician is believed to have had his heart set on taking over Les Bleus for some time, but was not able to unseat his former team-mate Didier Deschamps as head coach. 

Deschamps has held the role since 2012, and six years later became the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager. 

The 57-year-old also won the Nations League in 2021, and oversaw France’s run to the final in Qatar in 2022. 

But in January 2025, Deschamps announced that he would be stepping down after stewarding the national team in North America for the 2026 tournament.  

According to player and managerial expert, Fabrizio Romano, Zidane has a verbal agreement to take over ahead of the qualification cycle for the 2028 European Championship, although there has been no formal contracts signed.