Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the French national team, returning to the touchline for his first job since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that the former midfield maestro succeeds Didier Deschamps on a four-year contract, ending years of speculation about when he would finally take charge of Les Bleus.

FFF president Philippe Diallo unveiled Zidane at the federation’s headquarters in Paris, hailing the move as a landmark moment for French football. Diallo described Zidane as a “legend” whose long-stated ambition to coach the national team has now been fulfilled, framing the appointment as both a symbolic and strategic step for the country’s most high-profile sporting institution.

Zidane, 54, is widely regarded as one of France’s greatest players. He inspired the nation to its first World Cup triumph in 1998, scoring twice in the final against Brazil, and followed that with victory at Euro 2000. As a coach, he built an equally formidable reputation at Real Madrid, where he won three consecutive Champions League titles and two LaLiga crowns, cementing his status as one of the elite managers of the modern era.

Speaking at his presentation, Zidane called the role “a dream” and “an immense joy,” revealing that he had turned down multiple club offers during his time away from the game while waiting for the France job. He framed his return as a natural continuation of his relationship with the national team, promising to “give everything” to ensure France remain contenders for major honours.

Deschamps, a former teammate of Zidane and France coach for 14 years, leaves behind a formidable legacy. Under his guidance, France won the 2018 World Cup, reached the 2022 World Cup final and the Euro 2016 final, and consistently ranked among the world’s strongest sides. Zidane publicly saluted Deschamps’ “remarkable years,” while making clear he intends to impose his own ideas and leadership style.

Zidane’s first competitive tests will come in the UEFA Nations League, where France face Türkiye, Belgium and Italy. Those matches will serve as an early gauge of how quickly he can translate his club success and iconic playing career into a new era for Les Bleus, with qualification for Euro 2028 already looming on the horizon.