wait lasted more than four years. Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, Zinedine Zidane had not returned to the sidelines, despite interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs and multiple national teams. He was waiting for the right project. More than anything, he was waiting for France.
This Tuesday, the French Football Federation officially unveiled “Zizou” as the new head coach of Les Bleus, turning the page on Didier Deschamps after fourteen years marked by a World Cup title, a UEFA Nations League trophy, and two World Cup final appearances. It is a historic succession for the man who is arguably the greatest legend in French soccer history.
An obvious appointement become reality
For years, Zidane and the French national team seemed destined to reunite. A World Cup winner in 1998, a European champion in 2000, a national hero, and later the coach who led Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, he always appeared to be Didier Deschamps’ natural successor.
Unlike many coaches who build extensive résumés before taking over a national team, Zidane arrives with a unique record. In just five seasons on the sidelines, he won three Champions League titles, two La Liga championships, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups. That extraordinary success inevitably creates enormous expectations.
Because he was such an artistic player, many assume Zidane is naturally an attack-minded coach. The reality is more nuanced.
At Real Madrid, his soccer was never built around a rigid philosophy. Unlike Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique, Zidane never tried to impose an unchanging system based on possession or relentless pressing. His greatest strength has always been his pragmatism.
He adapts his team to the players at his disposal, regularly adjusts his tactical setup, and prioritizes balance above everything else.
His first Real Madrid side won the Champions League thanks to devastating transitions led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema.
His second spell looked very different: greater control, a more compact defensive structure, and a team capable of winning countless matches by a single goal.
That adaptability is probably his greatest asset as the head coach of a national team, where preparation time is always limited.
It is perhaps in another area, however, that Zidane is regarded as one of the finest coaches of his generation.
At Real Madrid, he managed a locker room featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, and Marcelo without ever allowing egos to overshadow the collective.
His greatest strength was never delivering dramatic speeches, but building genuine trust with every player.
Former stars consistently describe the same qualities: excellent communication, calmness, approachability, and unquestioned credibility.
That human touch will be essential with a French squad overflowing with talent, where managing different personalities and statuses will require exceptional leadership.
One of Zidane’s greatest advantages is that he inherits one of the deepest squads in world soccer.
Alongside captain and attacking leader Kylian Mbappé, Les Bleus boast an exciting new generation featuring Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Bradley Barcola, and Rayan Cherki.
These are all technically gifted, versatile players capable of thriving in multiple tactical systems.
That wealth of talent perfectly matches Zidane’s philosophy, which has always been to build his team around the strengths of his players rather than forcing them into a predetermined system.
Which style for Zidane’s France ?
The biggest question now concerns the identity of this new French national team.
Should fans expect spectacular soccer?
Probably not in the sense envisioned by supporters of extreme possession-based football.
Zidane’s teams have always sought to control matches, but never at the expense of verticality.
They are capable of keeping the ball when the situation demands it, attacking with devastating speed in transition, or defending deeper when the balance of play requires it.
His approach is driven far more by efficiency than ideology.
With such a complete squad at his disposal, he could field a more adventurous team than Didier Deschamps while maintaining the defensive discipline that has long been one of France’s greatest strengths.
Replacing Didier Deschamps is probably the most demanding job in French soccer.
Over fourteen years, his predecessor established a winning culture rarely matched at the international level.
Zidane, however, is not starting from scratch.
He inherits a competitive, experienced squad accustomed to the biggest stages.
His mission will be less about rebuilding than guiding this group into a new cycle capable of winning UEFA Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Zidane’s arrival also creates an interesting subplot away from the field.
A global Adidas ambassador for more than thirty years, the former No. 10 now becomes the head coach of a French national team outfitted by Nike.
The situation is unusual, but far from unprecedented in elite sports.
National team coaches’ personal endorsement deals remain separate from the commercial agreements signed by their federations, allowing Zidane to maintain his long-standing partnership without creating any significant legal conflict.
Rarely has a national team coach generated so much anticipation before coaching his first match.
For French supporters, Zidane is not just another manager.
He is the hero of 1998, the symbol of modern French soccer, and one of the most respected coaches of his generation.
His greatest challenge now will be turning that legendary aura into success on the field.
With one of the world’s most talented squads and a generation entering its prime, all the ingredients appear to be in place for another golden chapter in the history of Les Bleus.
After leaving an unforgettable mark on the French national team as a player, Zinedine Zidane now has the opportunity to build an equally lasting legacy as its head coach.
France
Kylian Mbappé
Zinédine Zidane