France has officially appointed football legend Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of the national team, succeeding Didier Deschamps, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.
The 54-year-old Zidane, who had long been considered the leading candidate for the role, will lead Les Bleus through the qualification campaign for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
His appointment marks a highly anticipated return to coaching after more than four years away from football management.
Speaking after his appointment, Zidane described coaching France as an “immense honour” and said it was the only job he had ever wanted.
“This is the only job I wanted. It has always been my dream to coach the French national team.”
The former France captain revealed that he had rejected several offers from top European clubs over the past five years because he was determined to wait for the opportunity to lead his country’s national side.
“I am fully prepared for this challenge and will give everything I have to help this team succeed,” Zidane said, expressing confidence in guiding France to further international success.
Zidane replaces Deschamps, who took charge of France in 2012 and oversaw one of the most successful periods in the nation’s football history.
Under his leadership, France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, reached the 2022 World Cup final, and established themselves among the world’s elite football nations.
