The French Football Federation on Tuesday officially appointed Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of the French national team, ending years of speculation over who would succeed Didier Deschamps.
Zidane, 54, takes over following the departure of Deschamps, whose 13-year reign came to an end earlier this month after France finished fourth at the World Cup.
Deschamps leaves behind a remarkable legacy, having guided France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and another appearance in the final four years later. His tenure, which began in 2012, made him one of the country’s most successful national team managers.
Speaking during his unveiling at the French Football Federation headquarters in Paris, Zidane said coaching France had always been his ultimate ambition.
“The France job was the only one I wanted,” he said. “I’ve had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team.”
Zidane, who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 UEFA European Championship with France as a player, has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid CF in 2021.
Although his coaching career has been limited to Real Madrid, it has been highly successful. He guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, a feat unmatched in the competition’s modern era.
The former midfield maestro now follows fellow 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc and former teammate Deschamps in taking charge of the French national side, as he begins a new chapter leading one of international football’s most accomplished teams.
