The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on X on July 28 that former midfielder Zinedine Zidane will take over as head coach of the national team. The decision came two weeks after Didier Deschamps' tenure ended with a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps' final match was a 4-6 defeat to England.
Zidane, 54, is expected to start his tenure with an away UEFA Nations League match against Turkey, followed by a home fixture against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.
Deschamps leaves after 14 years in charge, overseeing 185 matches and 120 wins. Under his leadership, France won the 2018 World Cup, the 2020-21 Nations League, and reached the finals of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
The generation of Zidane and Deschamps shares a close bond, having been teammates on the squad that won the 1998 World Cup on home soil. Zidane played a pivotal role in that triumph and won the Ballon d'Or the same year.
