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Zinedine Zidane has described his appointment as France’s new head coach as “an immense joy”, saying leading Les Bleus was the only managerial role he had been waiting for after years of turning down offers from top clubs across Europe.
The French Football Federation (FFF) on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of the 54-year-old football legend as successor to Didier Deschamps.
Zidane signed a four-year contract that will keep him in charge of the national team until the end of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
His appointment comes after Deschamps stepped down following France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, ending a 14-year spell that delivered the 2018 World Cup title and a runners-up finish in 2022.
Speaking during his official unveiling in Paris, an emotional Zidane admitted the opportunity to manage France fulfilled a long-held ambition.
“For me, it’s an immense joy… being able to become the coach of this French team. I don’t have any other words,” Zidane said.
“I’m holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I’m ready for the challenge, that’s what drives me today.”
The former France captain revealed he had deliberately rejected several managerial offers over the past five years because his ambition had always been to coach the French national team.
“The France job was the only one I wanted,” he said.
“I’ve had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team.”
Widely regarded as one of France’s greatest footballers, Zidane enjoyed an illustrious playing career, inspiring Les Bleus to their maiden FIFA World Cup triumph on home soil in 1998 with two goals in the final against Brazil before guiding the country to the UEFA European Championship title two years later.
Since retiring as a player, Zidane has built an equally impressive managerial reputation, winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018, alongside two La Liga crowns during two spells at the Spanish giants.
While acknowledging that international management presents a different challenge from club football, Zidane expressed confidence in his ability to adapt.
“I think it’s a completely different job, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I’ve experienced the club side of it. Now this is something new for me, but it doesn’t scare me.”
He also pledged to continue France’s winning tradition, insisting success remained his overriding objective.
“I’m going to give everything so that this team keeps on winning. That’s it, the only thing that drives me is being able to work for this France team and making sure it keeps on winning.”
“‘DD’ (Deschamps) is ‘DD’, Blanc was Blanc and ‘Zizou’ is Zizou’. I will do things the way I know how to do them.”
FFF President Philippe Diallo disclosed that discussions with Zidane about succeeding Deschamps began as far back as February 2025 after the outgoing coach informed the federation of his decision to leave following the 2026 World Cup.
Diallo said Zidane’s confidence and winning mentality convinced the federation he was the right man to lead the next generation of French football.
“There was one thing that struck me, that perhaps ultimately made the difference,” Diallo said.
“During the conversations we had, he said to me, ‘President, I know how to win.”
“When he said that, I saw someone who had both the desire and the self-belief needed to lead France. That is what it takes for our national team to remain successful in the years ahead.”
Zidane will officially begin his tenure with an away UEFA Nations League fixture against Turkey on September 25 before taking charge of his first home game against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.
