France set to appoint Zinedine Zidane to succeed Didier Deschamps as manager

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17 July 2026

France are set to appoint Zinedine Zidane as their new manager following the end of Didier Deschamps’ successful reign.

The French Football Federation is expected to formally confirm Zidane’s appointment this month after preparations for the transition were completed well in advance.

The 54-year-old has already

finalised

his coaching staff and is expected to sign the necessary paperwork before taking charge of the national team.

Zidane will inherit one of the world’s most talented squads and is expected to lead

France

into the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.

Deschamps will first oversee his final match this weekend when

Les Bleus

face England in the 2026 World Cup third-place play-off before officially handing over the reins to Zidane.

The outgoing boss leaves behind an impressive legacy after guiding

to World Cup glory in 2018, the 2021 UEFA Nations League title and another World Cup final in 2022.

However, France’s failure to reach another World Cup final prompted the federation to move forward with a succession plan that has long centred on Zidane.

The former

captain has repeatedly been linked with the role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 and is now set to make his long-awaited return to coaching.

Zidane has not managed since concluding his second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, but his record is one of the finest in modern football.

Across two spells in charge, he won three consecutive Champions League titles, two La Liga crowns, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups, establishing himself as one of the game’s elite managers.

As a player, Zidane occupies legendary status in French football after inspiring his country to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 titles.

His performances during those triumphs cemented his place among the greatest players of his generation, while he also won the Ballon d’Or in 1998.

Attention will now turn to how Zidane shapes a squad featuring established stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Ousmane Dembele, William Saliba and Michael Olise.

Many people expect Zidane to introduce a more expansive and possession-based style after

were criticised for lacking attacking fluency at the World Cup.

New manager to sign with France this month, says Fabrizio Romano

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